With the NBA finalizing a deal to hold the 2021 All-Star Game in Atlanta on March 7, we’ll actually get to see the league’s best duke it out in the annual star-studded game. All-Star voting opened on Jan. 28 and runs through Feb. 16, and Thursday the league revealed the first results with the top 10 players named for each conference in the backcourt and frontcourt.
As usual, fan voting counts for 50 percent of the final vote for the five starters named in each conference, with the media and coaches each having a 25 percent say in the starters. The top vote-getter in each conference is named a captain, and the two captains pick teams from the pre-selected pool of All-Stars.
After the first returns, Kevin Durant leads all vote-getters in the league, with fellow Nets teammates Kyrie Irving and James Harden taking the Nos. 2 and 3 spots in the East backcourt respectively, behind Wizards star Bradley Beal. Out West, LeBron James comes out on top for all frontcourt players while also leading the conference in votes, and Stephen Curry returns to the top spot for guards after being sidelined last season with a broken hand.
Western Conference
| FRONTCOURT | GUARDS |
|---|---|
| LeBron James (LAL): 2,288,676 | Stephen Curry (GSW): 2,113,178 |
| Nikola Jokic (DEN): 1,477,975 | Luka Doncic (DAL): 1,395,719 |
| Kawhi Leonard (LAC): 1,285,777 | Damian Lillard (POR): 998,853 |
| Anthony Davis (LAL): 1,192,881 | Ja Morant (MEM): 257,743 |
| Paul George (LAC): 549,280 | Donovan Mitchell (UTA): 236,850 |
| Zion Williamson (NOP): 411,668 | Devin Booker (PHX): 173,755 |
| Andrew Wiggins (GSW): 264,781 | Chris Paul (PHX): 128,127 |
| Christian Wood (DET): 261,009 | CJ McCollum (POR): 104,965 |
| Brandon Ingram (NOP): 230,387 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 99,286 |
| Carmelo Anthony (POR): 179,310 | Klay Thompson (GSW): 99,094 |
Eastern Conference
| FRONTCOURT | GUARDS |
|---|---|
| Kevin Durant (BKN): 2,302,705 | Bradley Beal (WAS): 1,273,817 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 1,752,185 | Kyrie Irving (BKN): 1,093,611 |
| Joel Embiid (PHI): 1,584,028 | James Harden (BKN): 1,014,763 |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS): 822,151 | Jaylen Brown (BOS): 590,195 |
| Jimmy Butler (MIA): 327,929 | Zach LaVine (CHI): 486,547 |
| Bam Adebayo (MIA): 307,498 | Trae Young (ATL): 268,126 |
| Domantas Sabonis (IND): 186,275 | Collin Sexton (CLE): 207,218 |
| Julius Randle (NYK): 175,325 | Derrick Rose (DET): 183,899 |
| Gordon Hayward (CHA): 159,767 | Russell Westbrook (WAS): 137,641 |
| Jerami Grant (DET): 134,487 | Ben Simmons (PHI): 117,993 |
Nikola Jokic’s strong start to the season has garnered him significant attention amongst fans, as he ranks just behind LeBron in the West frontcourt, ahead of Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Third-year sensation Luka Doncic comes in at second behind Curry in guards, with Damian Lillard behind him by a wide margin.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
