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The first round of fan voting for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is in, and international flair is front and center—with Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge.
Doncic Clears the Field in the West
Luka Doncic, now donning a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, has taken a commanding lead across the league with more than 1.24 million votes. That puts him not just ahead in the Western Conference, but at the top of all players league-wide. He’s trailed by a familiar pack: reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Warriors icon Stephen Curry, rising OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the ever-hyped Victor Wembanyama.
The vote totals hint at a changing of the guard, as a new generation of talent edges its way into the spotlight—while a few veteran favorites still hang tough.
Giannis Leads the East, Young Stars Gaining Ground
Over in the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo is setting the pace with just over 1.19 million votes. He’s leading a younger, hungrier pack that includes Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell. While Giannis remains a fan favorite, the names chasing him are staking their claim as the future faces of the conference.
How the Voting Works—and Why It Matters
Fan votes make up 50% of the formula to determine starters, with current NBA players and a media panel splitting the other half. Voting continues into mid-January, including a one-day promo where every fan vote counts triple—a key moment for players on the bubble.
This year’s All-Star Game, set for February 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, brings a twist: a USA vs. World format played as a three-team round-robin. That setup puts added intrigue on international players like Doncic and Giannis potentially squaring off against American stars in a new-look format.
What It Means for Fans and Bettors
With fan favorites pulling away early, the All-Star lineup is already shaping up to be a crowd-pleaser. For bettors and fantasy heads, it’s also a decent barometer of player popularity—which can swing All-Star MVP odds, prop bets, and DFS values during the break.
And if you’re an online sportsbook watching Luka dominate the vote count, now might be the time to adjust the lines.
