NBA All-Star voting 2026: Takeaways from second fan vote returns to decide starting lineups

Jeremy Beren

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NBA All-Star voting 2026: Takeaways from second fan vote returns to decide starting lineups image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NBA on Tuesday announced the second returns from fan voting for the 2026 All-Star Game, and it's becoming clearer as to who will start the newly formatted exhibition contest in Los Angeles next month.

The All-Star Game format this year will undergo a significant change that extends to fan voting. This year, the top 10 vote-getters — regardless of position — will be named to the starting lineup for the Eastern and Western Conference teams.

Moreover, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed a first-ever "United States vs. The World" format. Three teams of eight players each — two made of American NBA stars, the other made up of the league's international stars — will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games to determine the winner of the All-Star Game.

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NBA All-Star Game voting results 2026

Top 10 vote-getters

  1. Luka Doncic — 2,229,811
  2. Giannis Antetokounmpo — 2,092,284
  3. Nikola Jokic — 1,998,560
  4. Jalen Brunson — 1,916,497
  5. Tyrese Maxey — 1,908,978
  6. Stephen Curry — 1,844,903
  7. Cade Cunningham — 1,752,801
  8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — 1,554,468
  9. Donovan Mitchell — 1,530,237
  10. Jaylen Brown — 1,514,259

Jokic injury has not changed his standing 

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic remains third in fan voting, even after he suffered a left knee injury on Dec. 29 against the Miami Heat.

Jokic, though, reportedly is on course to return by the All-Star break. The three-time NBA MVP may not meet the games threshold required to qualify for postseason awards, but he is trending toward being available to play in his eighth successive All-Star Game.

Brunson, Maxey trade spots

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson appears locked in as an All-Star Game starter for the second year in a row. Brunson is averaging a career-best 29.2 points per game this season, and though the Knicks are on a four-game losing skid, his consistent performances have seen him rise to fourth in fan voting.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey has slipped to fifth, though only 7,519 votes separate him from Brunson. Maxey is in the midst of a career year himself; he is averaging 31.0 points per game while playing a league-high 40 minutes per night.

LeBron gains ground

In the first round of fan voting, LeBron James lagged behind Deni Avdija in the Western Conference vote. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is now one of 14 players to receive at least one million votes as he pursues his historic 22nd All-Star Game appearance.

With 1,059,855 votes received, James is separated from 10th-place Jaylen Brown by 454,404 votes, eight days before the process ends. He has more work to do to catch up, but the picture looks a bit rosier for James in what may be his final All-Star Game.

Curry to extend his All-Star record

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is well on track to make his 12th All-Star Game, and he is likely to be selected as a starter for the 11th time.

This would see Curry, 37, extend his franchise record of All-Star selections. He broke a tie with Paul Arizin last year, when the All-Star Game was held at the Warriors' Chase Center in San Francisco.

When will the NBA share fan vote returns?

The NBA is not expected to update fan voting results again until voting concludes at 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 14.

When will the NBA All-Star Game starters be announced?

Starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be revealed in the third or fourth full week of January, with reserves named shortly thereafter.

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

  • Date:  Sunday, Feb. 15
  • Time:  5 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. PT
  • Location:  Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The game is scheduled to tip off around 5 p.m. ET, and it will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

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Editorial Team