The NBA’s annual All-Star showcase is heating up with the first round of fan voting for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game now officially in the books. The early results, released on December 29, 2025, have set the stage for what could be one of the most internationally flavored All-Star events in league history. European sensations Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo have surged ahead as the leading vote-getters in their respective conferences, while a crop of emerging stars and a few surprises shake up the leaderboard.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić has grabbed the spotlight in the Western Conference, racking up a staggering 1,249,518 fan votes—more than any other player in the NBA. Hot on his heels, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić sits in second place with 1,128,962 votes, while Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry rounds out the top three with 1,031,455. Oklahoma City Thunder’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s been putting up MVP-level numbers this season, claims the fourth spot with 878,621 votes. San Antonio’s standout rookie Victor Wembanyama, already a fan favorite, is fifth in the West with 769,362 votes.
In the East, Milwaukee Bucks powerhouse Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the charge with 1,192,296 votes. He’s trailed by Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (1,072,449), New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (1,040,601), Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham (1,000,171), and Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell (851,155). This year’s voting has seen a surge for guards in the East, a direct result of the NBA’s new positionless ballot—no longer are players separated into backcourt and frontcourt categories, opening the door for the most deserving stars regardless of position.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game, set for February 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, promises a fresh twist. For the first time, the event will feature a U.S. vs. World format, with two teams of American players and one international squad battling it out in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. Each team will have at least eight players, and if the voting doesn’t yield the required 16 U.S. players and eight internationals, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will step in to round out the rosters.
The fan vote, which makes up 50% of the selection process, remains a powerful force in shaping the All-Star starting lineups. NBA players and a select media panel each account for 25% of the vote. The league will release multiple voting updates before the final teams are set, with the next update scheduled for January 6, 2026. Fans can continue casting their ballots daily via the NBA App and NBA.com, with special “3-for-1 Days” where votes count triple, ramping up the excitement and giving every supporter a chance to make their voice heard.
This year’s early returns have also produced some notable surprises, especially in the Western Conference. Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija has climbed to seventh in the West with 606,299 votes, outpacing such household names as Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant (eighth, 548,754 votes) and Lakers legend LeBron James, who finds himself in ninth place with 536,555 votes. LeBron, who ranks 15th in total votes, may be seeing the torch passed to a new generation, but his enduring popularity is still evident.
Oklahoma City Thunder fans have reason to celebrate as well. The Thunder, widely regarded as the league’s best team this season, are well represented. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth-place standing reflects his MVP-caliber campaign, while teammate Chet Holmgren, enjoying a breakout year as OKC’s second-best player, sits 19th in the West with 92,210 votes. According to local sources, "Barring something wild, Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren should both represent OKC in the All-Star Game." Their presence is a testament to the Thunder’s rise as a powerhouse in the Western Conference.
Across the country, the Cleveland Cavaliers are feeling the pressure. Donovan Mitchell is the lone Cavalier in the East’s top 20, holding the fifth spot. His teammates Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, both previous All-Stars, have struggled to regain their form—Garland is still working back from toe surgery, averaging 17.3 points and 7.1 assists in 16 games, while Mobley, recently returned from a calf injury, is putting up 18.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Their absence from the upper ranks of voting underscores the competitive nature of this year’s field and the shifting dynamics in the league.
The new All-Star format has also led to some interesting quirks. With the top American vote-getters skewing heavily toward guards, the U.S. teams may find themselves light on size, while the international squad—potentially featuring Antetokounmpo, Jokić, Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Alperen Sengün—looks stacked with big men. As one analyst put it, "The U.S. is going to be guard-heavy and the international side will feature most of the size." How the coaches and Commissioner Silver balance the rosters will be a storyline to watch as the event approaches.
Elsewhere in the voting, Steph Curry continues to be a fan favorite, holding strong in third place in the West. Other notable names in the top 10 include Anthony Edwards, Deni Avdija, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. In the East, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jalen Johnson round out the top spots. The competition for starting spots remains fierce, with several players hovering just below the million-vote threshold.
For fans, the All-Star Game is more than just a midseason exhibition—it’s a celebration of basketball’s brightest stars and a showcase for the league’s evolving global identity. With Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge, and the new U.S. vs. World format promising fresh intrigue, the 2026 NBA All-Star festivities are shaping up to be can’t-miss entertainment. The next round of voting results, set for January 6, will only add fuel to the fire as fans, players, and media alike debate who deserves a spot on the game’s grandest stage.
As the countdown to February 15 continues, all eyes remain on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, where the world’s best will clash in a format unlike any before. One thing’s for sure: the fans have spoken, and they want to see a new era of NBA greatness take center stage.
