Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James lead NBA all-star voting in latest returns
Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James lead NBA all-star voting in latest returns
NEW DELHI: Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James continue to dominate as the top vote-getters. The annual All-Star Game, scheduled for February 18 in Indianapolis, will see starters determined by a formula comprising 50% fan voting, 25% player votes, and 25% input from a media panel.
Greek sensation Antetokounmpo leads the Eastern Conference and the overall NBA with an impressive 3,475,698 votes, showcasing his popularity among fans. On the Western Conference front, LeBron James stands tall as the leader, securing the second-highest overall vote count with 3,096,031.
Voting, which concludes on January 20, will determine the starting lineup for the All-Star Game. The official announcement of the starters is scheduled for January 25.
In the Eastern Conference frontcourt, Antetokounmpo is joined by Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, and Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum. Embiid secured 2,975,987 votes, while Tatum garnered 2,939,663.
The East guards are led by Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, who received 2,192,810 votes. Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks moved into the second position with 1,449,485 votes, surpassing Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, who sits in third place with 1,414,122 votes.
In the Western Conference frontcourt, LeBron James is accompanied by two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant. Jokic received 2,777,068 votes, closely followed by Durant at 2,773,809. Lakers’ Anthony Davis is in fourth place with 1,487,434 votes.
The West guards are led by Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, who garnered 2,508,618 votes. Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry follows closely in the second position with 2,126,037 votes.
This year’s All-Star Game will see a return to the traditional Eastern Conference versus Western Conference format after six seasons of a captain-based selection process. The previous format had the top vote-getter from each conference serving as a captain and conducting a draft to select their roster. LeBron James, a six-time captain, had notable victories in this format, but this year’s All-Star Game will bring back the classic conference rivalry.
(Inputs from AFP)
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