Look, everyone knew the 2026 NBA All-Star Game was going to be weird. Moving to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood? Cool. New "United States vs. The World" tournament format? Bold. But honestly, looking at the latest nba all star vote leaders, the real drama isn't the venue—it's the names currently sitting at the top and, more importantly, the legends sliding down the list.
It's kinda wild. We've spent two decades just assuming LeBron James would be the captain. Now? The King is literally fighting to stay in the conversation for a starting spot. If you haven't checked the second fan returns released on January 6, you're in for a shock.
The International Takeover is Basically Complete
The "World" team for this year's round-robin is going to be terrifying. Luka Doncic isn't just leading the West; he’s the overall leading vote-getter across the entire league. As of the latest official update, Luka has racked up 2,229,811 votes. People are calling him the new face of the Lakers for a reason—even if he’s technically still a Maverick, the L.A. crowd is already treating him like royalty.
Then you have Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s holding down the Eastern Conference lead with 2,092,284 votes. Between Luka, Giannis, and Nikola Jokic (who’s sitting pretty at nearly 2 million votes despite a recent knee scare), the international guys aren't just participating. They're dominating the nba all star vote leaders charts.
It sort of makes sense when you think about it. The league is global now. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is pulling massive numbers from Canada, and Victor Wembanyama is basically a national hero in France. The "USA vs. World" format actually feels necessary because, frankly, the World team might actually be the favorites.
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That Ridiculous Race Between Brunson and Maxey
The tightest battle on the board right now is in the East backcourt. It’s basically a coin flip. In the first return, Tyrese Maxey had a slight edge. But in the second update, New York did what New York does. Jalen Brunson surged into second place with 1,916,497 votes, leapfrogging Maxey by a razor-thin margin of about 7,500.
7,500 votes. That’s nothing.
You've got Maxey averaging over 31 points and a league-high 40 minutes a night, while Brunson is the heartbeat of a Knicks team that owns the headlines. It’s the kind of race that makes you realize how much market size matters. Cade Cunningham is also lurking there in fourth place with 1.75 million votes. It's cool to see Detroit fans finally having something to mobilize for.
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The Western Conference Top 10 (Second Returns)
- Luka Doncic: 2,229,811
- Nikola Jokic: 1,998,560
- Stephen Curry: 1,844,903
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 1,554,468
- Victor Wembanyama: 1,321,985
- Anthony Edwards: 1,246,423
- Deni Avdija: 1,224,109
- LeBron James: 1,059,855
- Kevin Durant: 997,386
- Alperen Sengun: 871,952
What’s Going On With LeBron and KD?
This is the part that feels wrong. LeBron James is currently 8th in the Western Conference. Let that sink in. Kevin Durant is 9th.
For the first time in basically forever, LeBron’s streak of being an All-Star starter is in legitimate jeopardy. He’s 41. He’s still playing at an elite level, but the "next generation" isn't just coming—they've arrived. Deni Avdija actually had more votes than LeBron in the first return, which sounds like a glitch in the Matrix but is actually just a testament to how the Portland fanbase and international voters are showing up.
LeBron has gained some ground lately, finally crossing the million-vote mark, but he’s still trailing the leaders by over a million. It’s a weird vibe. You’ve got legends like Curry still comfortably in the top three, while the others are scrapping just to stay in the top 10.
The Snubs and the Surprises
Poor Devin Booker. The guy is leading a Suns team that’s actually winning, yet he’s sitting at 17th in the West. He even commented on it, saying it feels like "WWE" sometimes. He's not wrong. All-Star voting has always been a popularity contest, but with the new rules—where the top 10 vote-getters regardless of position make the cut—the traditional "positional balance" is out the window.
And how about Cooper Flagg? The rookie actually cracked the top 20 in the West. That’s insane. Usually, rookies have to wait their turn, but the hype is so real that fans are already penciling him in.
Then there's the East "bench" leaders. Jaylen Brown is sitting in 6th, which is a tough break for an MVP candidate. He’s likely going to be a coach's selection for the reserves, but it’s gotta sting a bit to be behind Cade and Maxey when you're the reigning Finals MVP.
How the Final Roster Actually Happens
Don't forget, the fan vote is only 50% of the puzzle. The players and the media get the other 50% (25% each). This is where things get interesting for guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While Luka and Steph might win the fan vote, the media and players often rank SGA higher because of his two-way impact.
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If there’s a tie, the fan vote is the tiebreaker. That's why those late-night voting pushes on the NBA App actually matter.
The final starters will be announced on Monday, January 19, on NBC. Once those 10 names are locked in, the coaches will pick the remaining 14 reserves. With the new "USA vs. World" format, Commissioner Adam Silver might even have to step in to balance the rosters if the voting doesn't naturally provide enough international players to fill out the "World" squad.
Real Steps to Follow the 2026 All-Star Cycle
If you're trying to keep track of who actually makes it to Inglewood, here is the timeline to watch. First, mark January 19 on your calendar—that's the big reveal for the starters on NBC at 2 p.m. EST.
Second, pay attention to the injury reports. Nikola Jokic’s knee and Austin Reaves’ status will determine if we see some alternate entries. Finally, check the reserve announcements on February 1. That’s when the real "snub" conversations start, especially for guys like Jamal Murray or Kawhi Leonard who are hovering on the edge of the nba all star vote leaders list.