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Tim BontempsESPN
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James voted the first round fans for the NBA All-Star Game.
The update was unveiled by the NBA on Thursday afternoon.
Durant, who missed the entire previous season – his first as a Nets member – with a torn Achilles tendon, led all players by 2,302,705 votes, slightly ahead of James’ 2,288,676, the best overall in the Western Conference.
Stephen Curry (2.11 million) was the only player other than Durant and James who exceeded 2 million votes, and was consequently the runaway leader for first place among the West Guards. Luka Doncic (1.39 million), Dallas Mavericks guard, was second, followed by Damian Lillard (998,853), Portland Trail Blazers, in third place.
Durant was followed in the East’s forefront by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (1.75 million votes) and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (1.58 million), with the three well ahead of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (822 151), in fourth place.
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, the NBA’s leading scorer, led all of the East’s backs with nearly 1.3 million votes and was followed by Durant’s co-stars in Brooklyn: James Harden (1,093,611) and Kyrie Irving (1,014,763).
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine and Atlanta Hawks Trae Young were fourth, fifth and sixth away, respectively.
In the West, James is followed in the front field by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (1.47 million), forward Kawhi Leonard (1.28 million) of the LA Clippers and Anthony Davis (1.19 million) of the Lakers team , with Paul George, Leon George, fifth.
The All-Star voting began on January 28, with fans able to vote either via the NBA’s website, its app, or on Twitter, and will continue until February 16. The All-Star entrees – which are determined by fans voting (responsible for 50 percent of the vote), media votes (25 percent) and the voting of players (25 percent) – will be announced on February 18 on TNT . The reserves – which are voted on by NBA coaches – will be announced on February 23 on TNT.