Jan 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) is greeted by forward Luka Doncic (77) after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Jan 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) is greeted by forward Luka Doncic (77) after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

2026 NBA All-Star Voting Returns: Luka Doncic Still Leading Way, LeBron James Rises But Austin Reaves Falls

Originally posted on Lakers Nation | By Corey Hansford | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 1:27 PM ET

The first fan voting returns for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game saw all three of the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstars in the top 10. Luka Doncic led all players in votes while LeBron James and Austin Reaves were ninth and tenth, respectively.

Now with the second voting returns in, there have been some changes in status for the top Lakers players.

Doncic has remained the leading vote-getter for all players and James moved up one spot to eighth. Reaves, however, has fallen down one spot likely due to his calf injury, via NBA PR:

Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain the leaders in their conferences in the second fan returns in NBA All-Star Voting 2026.

Fans (50% of the vote) join NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%) in selecting five players in each conference honored as starters. pic.twitter.com/u8tlbj9GA8

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 6, 2026

Doncic keeping that top spot makes complete sense as he has continued to be an absolute star for the Lakers. He has been basically unguardable all season long and continues to lead the league in scoring. LeBron has also been outstanding as of late and seems to have found his groove this season. With Reaves being out due to injury, James has again become one of the Lakers’ primary creators and his play has bared that out.

Unfortunately for Reaves, his injury status seems to have negatively affected his standing amongst the fan votes. It may simply be a case of out of sight, out of mind for the guard as Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun has surpassed him by more than 150,000 votes.

Reaves being named an All-Star starter was always a long shot so his standing in the Western Conference voting doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t ultimately be on the team. Reserves are selected by the coaches and his outstanding play throughout the year could still see him make his first career All-Star appearance.

The top five in the West remains the same with Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, all following Doncic in the same order. The Eastern Conference top five is also the same group of players, though Jalen Brunson did pass Tyrese Maxey for second behind Giannis Antetokounmpo with Cade Cunningham and Donovan Mitchell rounding things out. There is still time remaining to vote as fan voting lasts through Jan. 14.

Lakers’ LeBron James compares himself and Luka Doncic to quarterback and receiver

Luka Doncic and LeBron James have continued to build their chemistry together over the past couple of months and LeBron even comparing them to a quarterback and wide receiver in football.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Lakers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: