On Friday, the NBA revealed the first fan vote returns for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.
Fans account for 50 percent of the final vote for this year's All-Star Game, which will take place at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 17. The other 50 percent is made up by current players and a media panel, with each side accounting for 25 percent of the vote.
Voting opened on Dec. 26 and will conclude on Jan. 21.
VOTE HERE FOR ALL-STAR STARTERS
With that in mind, here are some takeaways from the results...
The results
The first WEST returns from #VoteNBAAllStar 2020! Do you agree??
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 2, 2020
Make YOUR vote count twice today by voting here
➡️ https://t.co/KkbGhfwxpd pic.twitter.com/I23pyOkS8u
The first EAST returns from #VoteNBAAllStar 2020! Do you agree??
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 2, 2020
Make YOUR vote count twice today by voting here
➡️ https://t.co/KkbGhfwxpd pic.twitter.com/YAc6NeobNh
The top-10 vote-getters
- Luka Doncic (DAL) — 1,073,957
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) — 1,073,358
- LeBron James (LAL) — 1,020,851
- Anthony Davis (LAL) — 955,246
- James Harden (HOU) — 749,080
- Kawhi Leonard (LAC) — 740,657
- Joel Embiid (PHI) — 606,534
- Pascal Siakam (TOR) — 544,302
- Trae Young (ATL) — 443,412
- Kyrie Irving (BKN) — 432,481
If voting ended today, the fan-voted starters would be...
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Guard — James Harden | Guard — Trae Young |
| Guard — Luka Doncic | Guard — Kyrie Irving |
| Forward — Kawhi Leonard | Forward — Pascal Siakam |
| Forward — LeBron James | Foward — Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Forward — Anthony Davis | Centre — Joel Embiid |
The tighest races for starting spots
Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard each have a comfortable lead in the Western Conference. Unless something big changes between now and when voting ends, there's a good chance that those five will be starters.
There's a little more to fight for in the Eastern Conference, as Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum aren't far behind Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam in the frontcourt. The race to start in the backcourt is also close, as there are about 1,000 votes seperating Kemba Waker from Kyrie Irving and Trae Young.
In addition to Walker, Irving and Young, six backcourt players have received at least 100,000 votes: Derrick Rose, Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, Kyle Lowry and Bradley Beal.
Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets rounds out the top-10 in the Eastern Conference backcourt.
Keep in mind: the player and media vote accounts for 25% each, respectively. So the starters won't necessarily be the top vote-getters at each position.
Where is Ben Simmons?
Simmons ranks sixth among guards in the Eastern Conference behind Young, Irving, Walker, Rose and LaVine.
Also receiving votes
Perhaps the most surprising name in the first fan vote returns is Boston Celtics centre Tacko Fall, who ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference frontcourt. Fall went undrafted in 2019 and has appeared in only three games with the Celtics this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers are well represented. Beyond James and Davis, Dwight Howard ranks 10th in the Western Conference frontcourt and Alex Caruso ranks eighth in the Western Conference backcourt.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony sits in the eighth spot in the Western Conference frontcourt, behind Kristaps Porzingis and Nikola Jokic and ahead of Howard and Brandon Ingram.
Former MVP Derrick Rose ranks fourth among guards in the Eastern Conference. He's come off the bench in all but one game for the Detroit Pistons and last made the All-Star team in 2011-12.
Notable players missing
To name a few: Rudy Gobert, CJ McCollum, Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Khris Middleton, Fred VanVleet and Tobias Harris.
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.
