Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James lead the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively, in the final fan voting results for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.
In the Western Conference, James and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić leads the frontcourt voting, while Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić and Golden State Warriors veteran Stephen Curry lead the voting among the guards.
In the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid lead the frontcourt voting, while Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young lead the voting among the frontcourt. guards.
Fans account for 50 percent of the vote in determining All-Star Game starters, while current NBA players and the media account for 25 percent each.
Eastern Conference Highlights
Antetokounmpo is putting together another MVP-worthy season with the Bucks alongside new addition Damian Lillard, who was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers during the offseason.
The 29-year-old is averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 39 games while shooting a career-best 60.8 percent from the floor, in addition to shooting 23, 5 percent deep.
Thanks in part to Antetokounmpo, the Bucks sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 28-13 record, just four games behind the first-place Boston Celtics.
Embiid, meanwhile, may be the MVP favorite after beat Jokić in a 126-121 victory over the Nuggets on Tuesday night.
The reigning MVP is averaging a career-high 35.1 points, along with 11.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 29 games, while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent in depth.
The Sixers remain in contention for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, thanks in part to Embiid. They sit in third place in the conference with a 26-13 record, one game behind the Bucks and five games behind the Celtics.
Among the East’s guards, Haliburton has undeniably been one of the best, as he led the Pacers to the in-season tournament finals against James and the Lakers and had Indiana in contention for a playoff spot.
Haliburton is having a career year, averaging 23.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 12.5 assists in 33 games while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and 40.3 percent from deep.
Since the All-Star Game is being held in Indiana, Haliburton will be a fan favorite once the festivities begin.
Western Conference Highlights
As long as James continues to play in the NBA, he will be an All-Star Game candidate. The Lakers star has earned 19 career All-Star Game selections, and the only year he missed the event was as a rookie in 2003-04.
While the Lakers struggle to rank 10th in the Western Conference with a 21-21 record, James continues to turn heads with his level of play at 39 years old. He’s averaging 24.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 38 games, while shooting 52.4 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from deep.
Jokić, meanwhile, has earned five straight All-Star Game selections and he continues to prove why he is one of the best players in the league. He helped the Nuggets to a 28-14 record, which puts them third in the Western Conference behind the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 28-year-old, who is once again a top MVP contender this year, is averaging 25.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 41 games, while shooting 58.1 percent of the ground and 34.5 percent in depth.
As for guards, Dončić continues to reach new heights with the Mavericks, and he has the team in contention for a playoff spot with a 24-18 record after Dallas missed the playoffs the last year.
The 24-year-old is averaging 33.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists in 35 games while shooting 48.5 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from deep. As long as he continues to compete at a high level and stays healthy, the Mavs should find themselves in the playoffs this year.
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will take place on February 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
