The NBA has revealed the third fan vote returns for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.
Fans account for 50 percent of the final vote for this year's All-Star Game, which will take place at the United Center in Chicago on Feb. 17. The other 50 percent is made up by current players and a media panel, with each side accounting for 25 percent of the vote.
Voting opened on Dec. 25 and will conclude on Jan. 20.
VOTE HERE FOR ALL-STAR STARTERS
With that in mind, here are some takeaways from the third fan vote returns...
The results
The third WEST returns from #VoteNBAAllStar 2020!
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 16, 2020
Make YOUR vote count twice today by voting here ➡️ https://t.co/KkbGhfwxpd pic.twitter.com/eDFrfEIWcf
The third EAST returns from #VoteNBAAllStar 2020!
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 16, 2020
Make YOUR vote count twice today by voting here ➡️ https://t.co/KkbGhfwxpd pic.twitter.com/tv2GspH5Vk
The top-10 vote-getters
- LeBron James (LAL) — 4,747,887
- Luka Doncic (DAL) — 4,598,323
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) — 4,474,107
- Anthony Davis (LAL) — 4,412,619
- Kawhi Leonard (LAC) — 2,973,076
- James Harden (HOU) — 2,934,614
- Pascal Siakam (TOR) — 2,433,411
- Joel Embiid (PHI) — 2,398,743
- Trae Young (ATL) — 2,066,924
- Jimmy Butler (MIA) — 2,046,257
If voting ended today, the fan-voted starters would be...
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Guard — James Harden | Guard — Trae Young |
| Guard — Luka Doncic | Guard — Kyrie Irving |
| Forward — Kawhi Leonard | Forward — Pascal Siakam |
| Forward — LeBron James | Foward — Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Forward — Anthony Davis | Centre — Joel Embiid |
What's changed?
The biggest change at the top is that Jimmy Butler is now one of the leading vote-getters, but he still ranks fourth among frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference. Since Kyrie Irving still ranks second among Eastern Conference guards, he would get the final starting spot based on the fan vote returns.
The three leaders in the Eastern Conference frontcourt are the same, although Pascal Siakam now has the second-most votes, surpassing Joel Embiid.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso continues to rise in the Western Conference, now ranking fourth among guards. He's ahead of players like Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell and Ja Morant.
The two other biggest changes: Kyle Lowry has moved up to fifth place among Eastern Conference guards and Carmelo Anthony has moved up to sixth place among Western Conference frontcourt players. They ranked sixth and eighth, respectively, at their position in the second fan vote returns.
Speaking of Lowry...
Where are the Raptors?
As already mentioned, Siakam now ranks second among Eastern Conference frontcourt players and Lowry ranks fifth among Eastern Conference guards.
Fred VanVleet is the only other Raptor in the top-10 at his position. He ranks 10th among Eastern Conference guards, Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown and Zach LaVine being the players standing between him and Lowry.
The tightest races for starting spots
They're basically the same as before.
Unless something drastic happens between now and the final returns, the Western Conference frontcourt and backcourt is set. It's the final guard and frontcourt spot in the Eastern Conference that's still up for grabs.
Jimmy Butler trails Joel Embiid by 352,486 votes and Kemba Walker trails Kyrie Irving by 16,985 votes.
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.