The first returns for All-Star voting were released and, surprisingly, LeBron James isn’t the top vote-getter in the Western Conference.
LeBron James has been as popular and dominant as any NBA All-Star in the league's history, but perhaps early returns of All-Star fan voting indicate a decline in interest from his fans is now here.
The NBA released the first returns on All-Star voting on Thursday and in a surprising turn of events, LeBron James was not the top vote-getter in the West.
Instead, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Phoenix’s Kevin Durant were in front of him in fan voting. The current top vote-getter isn’t even any Western Conference star, as that honor currently lies with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo are leading the NBA’s first 2024-25 All-Star fan voting returns: pic.twitter.com/eQeU60l673
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 2, 2025
These results are a surprise, but there is still plenty of time for votes to swing back in LeBron’s favor as fan voting will continue until Jan. 20.
On the court, LeBron James has remained dominant. He is averaging 23.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game. He has already made a record 20 NBA All-Star appearances and will likely make his 21st in San Francisco later this year even if he’s not king of the fan vote.
Let’s see if LeBron’s popularity rises when we get the next fan voting returns on Jan. 11.
Anthony Davis is the other Laker who garnered enough votes to make the top 10 in the Western Conference frontcourt.
AD has been far and away the best player on the Lakers this season. He’s started every game he’s played and is averaging 26.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists. If AD makes the All-Star team, it will be his 10th appearance and his third as a Laker.
While the fan vote is important, keep in mind it makes up just 50% of the vote. The media and current NBA players split up the other 50.
To make your fan vote count the most, be sure to vote on the “3-for-1 Days,” where NBA ID members’ votes will count three times. Those dates are Jan. 3, Jan. 10 and Jan. 20, the final day of voting. Fans can vote once per day.
When it comes time to play the NBA All-Star game, things will be very different from the previous games. This will not be a sole contest between the East vs. the West, nor will it be two captains selecting from the pool of All-Star players.
Instead, four teams will play each other in a mini-tournament. TNT analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will select three teams out of the 24 players and the Castro Rising Stars Champion from the night before will be the fourth team. The first team to 40 points will deemed the winner.
This is the NBA’s attempt to maintain a certain level of competitiveness in the exhibition match, which has left much to be desired over the past few years.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
