Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic continued to lead all vote getters in the results released Thursday for starting spots in next month’s NBA All-Star Game.
Greek star Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s leading scorer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, led the Eastern Conference with 2,721,339 votes, while Jokic led the Western Conference frontcourt with 2,277,723 votes.
Fan votes count for 50 percent in the decision to enter the competition, which will take place on February 16 in San Francisco, and the media panel and current NBA players each have 25 percent of the final total.
The All-Star Game starters will be announced on January 23.
The NBA has changed its matchup format in 2025, introducing a four-team tournament to replace the old two-team system. Teams selected by Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will be joined by the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge under the guidance of women’s NBA legend Candace Parker.
Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to lead Western Conference guards with 1,811,050 votes, while Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball remained leading Eastern Conference guards with 1,490,227 votes.
Jayson Tatum of the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics was third in overall votes and second in the East frontcourt behind Antetokounmpo with 2,224,086 votes, and New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns was third with 1,872,228.
Behind Ball in the eastern backcourt were Donovan Mitchell of NBA season leader Cleveland, who had 1,181,310, and Damian Lillard of Milwaukee, who had 1,019,739.
In the West frontcourt, three-time NBA MVP Jokic was followed by Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, who scored 1,983,680, and four-time MVP LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time NBA scoring leader, who scored 1,981,529.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, was fourth with 1,630,948, just ahead of Lakers star Anthony Davis with 1,528,262.
Behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the West backcourt voting, Golden State’s Stephen Curry moved into second place with 1,369,365 votes, ahead of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who is currently third overall with 1,344,205 votes.
