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The two-time defending NBA MVP is getting plenty of love from fans for the all-star game.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic ranks second among Western Conference frontcourt players with more than 2.23 million votes in the first fan returns, released by the league on Thursday. Only Lakers forward LeBron James, who leads all players with nearly 3.17 million votes, is ahead of him.
Jokic, 28, is the only Denver player in the top 10 among guards or frontcourt players. He is a four-time all-star and was selected as a starter in each of the last two seasons. Through 34 games this season, he’s averaging 25.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and a career-best 9.5 assists for the Western Conference-leading Nuggets.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant lead their respective conferences in the first fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.
Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. NBA players and a media panel account for 25% each.
The next fan update is Jan. 12. pic.twitter.com/osVeUGI8H4
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 5, 2023
The fan vote accounts for 50% of the criteria to decide all-star starters. The other half is split evenly between NBA players and a media panel. Five starters will be selected from each conference with the seven reserves chosen by a vote of each conference’s coaches. The players with the most fan votes from each conference will be named captains and draft his team a week before the all-star game.
Nets’ Kevin Durant leads all Eastern Conference players with 3.1 million votes, slightly ahead of Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (3 million).
The all-star vote runs through Jan. 21. The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 19 in at Vivant Arena in Salt Lake City. It will be the first time Utah has hosted the event since 1993.
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