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Nuggets' Nikola Jokić Leads Western Conference in First NBA All-Star Fan Voting Results

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Nathaniel Holloway | Last updated Jan 2, 2025 2:36 PM ET

The NBA released the first results of the NBA All-Star fan vote on Thursday, and there are some surprises.

Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets leads in voting in the Western Conference with 1,422,121 votes. Despite leading the West, he ranks second in total votes behind the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, who leads the Eastern Conference with 1,710,630 votes.

Jokić has had another incredible season and is arguably putting together the best season of his career. So far this season, Jokić is averaging 30.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 56.1% from the field and an NBA-best 49.2% from three. Because of his gaudy numbers, he is not only one of the lead All-Star votes getters but is also the frontrunner to win his fourth MVP award this season.

While Jokić is at the top of the West votes, Kevin Durant and LeBron James are also right on his heels for the frontcourt positions. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander currently leads the West race for guards with 1,053,683 votes ahead of Luka Dončić and Stephon Curry.

With Jokić leading the voting in the West, he is well on his way to his seventh All-Star appearance. He is also the only Nuggets’ player to appear in the top 10 in voting in the first round of returns, and it is likely that he will be the only Denver player to represent the franchise in San Francisco.

Of course, this season’s All-Star game is full of changes which will see a mini-tournament style that will feature four teams. Three teams will be NBA All-Stars while the fourth will be the winner of the annual Rising Stars challenge.

Teams will be drafted by Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal of TNT’s Inside the NBA, and Jokić should be one of the first players off the board as he has become arguably the best basketball player in the world.

Fan voting will continue to be updated every Thursday in January until voting closes on Jan. 20. TNT will reveal the All-Star starters on Thursday, Jan. 23 and the reserves on Thursday, Jan. 30 ahead of the All-Star game in San Francisco on Sunday, Feb. 16.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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