Lebron, Giannis lead NBA All-Star votes in first return

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Los Angeles Lakers' Lebron James and Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the Western and Eastern Conferences in the first fan returns of the NBA All-Star voting, the NBA announced.

This year's NBA All-Star game, the 68th of its kind, will take place at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Sunday, Feb. 17.

Superstar Lebron James, who is a 14-time NBA All-Star and last year's All-Star MVP, accumulated a total of 1,083,363 votes from fans to lead the Western Conference.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry holds first place among West guards with 793,111 votes.

A pleasant surprise in voting came for 2011 regular season MVP Derrick Rose, who got 698,086 votes, second most among Western Conference guards.

Rose, despite playing in only 25 games last season and has been battling with torn ACL injury since 2012, is having a great season with the Minnesota Timberwolves with 18.9 points per game.

Dallas Mavericks' rookie sensation Luka Doncic seems to capture fans' hearts as he got 679,839 votes from fans, second most in the Western Conference.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, an All-Star for the last two years, is leading Eastern Conference with 991,561 votes. Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving leads Eastern Conference guards with 910,329 votes.

Dwyane Wade, who is having his last season in the NBA, got 409,156 votes, second most among Eastern Conference guards.

The 2019 NBA All-Star Game will follow last year’s format: The two team captains will draft rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference, making their picks regardless of conference affiliation, the NBA announced.

The captains will be the All-Star starter from each conference who receives the most fan votes in his conference.

Fans account for 50 percent of the vote to determine the 10 starters for the NBA All-Star Game. NBA players and a media panel each account for 25 percent of the vote.

Here are the full first returns in All-Star voting:

Eastern Conference

Frontcourt

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 991,561

2. Kawhi Leonard (TOR) 774,172

3. Joel Embiid (PHI) 648,002

4. Jimmy Butler (PHI) 222,206

5. Jayson Tatum (BOS) 214,622

6. Blake Griffin (DET) 192,694

7. Vince Carter (ATL) 76,022

8. Andre Drummond (DET) 68,204

9. Gordon Hayward (BOS) 66,492

10. Al Horford (BOS) 62,288

Guards

1. Kyrie Irving (BOS) 910,329

2. Dwyane Wade (MIA) 409,156

3. Kemba Walker (CHA) 319,519

4. Ben Simmons (PHI) 259,993

5. Victor Oladipo (IND) 198,009

6. Kyle Lowry (TOR) 180,571

7. Zach LaVine (CHI) 128,605

8. Jeremy Lin (ATL) 62,573

9. Bradley Beal (WAS) 61,269

10. John Wall (WAS) 54,366

Western Conference

Frontcourt

1. LeBron James (LAL) 1,083,363

2. Luka Doncic (DAL) 679,839

3. Kevin Durant (GSW) 659,968

4. Anthony Davis (NOP) 605,417

5. Paul George (OKC) 580,055

6. Steven Adams (OKC) 261,327

7. Nikola Jokic (DEN) 235,272

8. Kyle Kuzma (LAL) 195,477

9. Draymond Green (GSW) 138,017

10. DeMarcus Cousins (GSW) 92,977

Guards

1. Stephen Curry (GSW) 793,111

2. Derrick Rose (MIN) 698,086

3. James Harden (HOU) 541,606

4. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 459,792

5. Klay Thompson (GSW) 247,618

6. Damian Lillard (POR) 200,609

7. DeMar DeRozan (SAS) 197,524

8. Lonzo Ball (LAL) 175,040

9. Devin Booker (PHO) 111,897

10. Chris Paul (HOU) 101,104