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Giannis, Nikola Jokic lead fans in return

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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, in the first fan returns for the 2025 NBA All-Star voting presented by AT&T.

Fans account for 50% of the vote to determine All-Star starters, while NBA players and media panels each account for 25%

According to the league's official announcement on Thursday, fans will account for 50% of the vote to determine the All-Star starters, while NBA players and media panels will each account for 25%. The next fan update is January 9th.

During the voting period, NBA ID members can submit one completed vote each day through the NBA App and NBA.com voting page (NBA.com/vote). A unanimous vote consists of three frontcourt players and two defenders from both leagues.

Along with Nikola Jokic (west frontcourt) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (east frontcourt), Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (west guard) and Charlo Hornets' LaMelo Ball (Eastern Guard) topped the voting list for their respective position groups.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James finished third in Western Conference frontcourt voting – as a starter, he received 1.17 million votes, behind Jokic (1.4 million votes) and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant rand (1.27 million votes).

Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely, leads Stephen Curry in the Western Conference backcourt by about 60,000 votes

However, James still leads Lakers teammate Anthony Davis and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Vembanyama, who both received more than 900,000 votes.

Meanwhile, Golden State's Stephen Curry will likely come off the bench for the second straight year as he trails Gilgeous-Alexander (1.05 million votes) and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.

Although Doncic leads Curry by about 60,000 votes, the Mavericks star will miss the next few weeks with a calf strain. That means Curry could be voted into the starting spot at February's hometown All-Star Game in San Francisco, overtaking Doncic.

In addition, Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks ranked fourth in the Western Conference backcourt with 503,000 votes. Then there's Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who finished fifth with 411,749 votes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the East frontcourt, followed by Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns

In the East, Antetokounmpo once again leads all vote-getters this season with 1.7 million votes. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (1.38 million votes) finished with the second-highest vote total in the division behind the Greek Freak.

Tatum is expected to be selected to his sixth consecutive All-Star Game. Additionally, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns ranked third with just over 1 million votes.

No other East frontcourt player received 500,000 votes. Barring major injuries, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tatum and Towns will likely be in those three positions.

The closest battle of all the East position groups is the backfield.

While Ball leads the Eastern Conference backcourt with less than 1 million votes, NBA-leading Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers is only 13,000 votes ahead of Bucks guard Damian Lillard as the second starter in the Eastern Conference Location.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks ranked fourth with just under 500,000 votes, and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks ranked fifth with just over 350,000 votes. Cade Cunnigham of the Detroit Pistons finished sixth with just over 247,000 votes.

Fan voting updates will be shared on the first three Thursdays of January (January 2, January 9, and January 16). TNT will announce the starting lineup for the NBA All-Star Game on Thursday, January 23, and the reserve lineup on Thursday, January 30.


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