Giannis, Durant lead All-Star fan vote after 1st returns
The first returns for NBA All-Star voting were released Thursday night, with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo leading all players in both conferences with 863,416 votes.
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant sits atop the Western Conference with 767,402 votes.
The #NBAAllStar Voting First Returns for Eastern Conference players!
— 2018 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 4, 2018
VOTE NOW: https://t.co/UjbrNUQ7Vw pic.twitter.com/ltlmLAo6S9
The #NBAAllStar Voting First Returns for Western Conference players!
— 2018 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 4, 2018
VOTE NOW: https://t.co/UjbrNUQ7Vw pic.twitter.com/haLOOJnnVd
Fan votes only account for 50 percent of the weighted vote, with the other half coming from players and members of the media.
Durant ranks fourth overall among all players, though, as both LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics) have more votes in the Eastern Conference.
Related: Which 10 players deserve your All-Star vote?
A number of rookies are receiving a ton of love. Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers is fourth in East backcourt voting, while Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is seventh in frontcourt voting.
Out West, a pair of first-year Lakers in Lonzo Ball (eighth, backcourt) and Kyle Kuzma (ninth, frontcourt) are also in the fold.
The starting lineups, along with the two captains (currently Antetokounmpo and Durant), will be announced Jan. 18. The reserves, as selected by coaches, will come five days later on Jan. 23.
The 67th edition of the All-Star Game goes down Feb. 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.