The NBA just dropped the latest nba all star voting returns, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. If you haven't been paying attention to the standings lately, the old guard is basically hanging on by a thread. We are officially in the era where the "young guns" aren't just coming for the throne—they’ve already moved the furniture into the palace.
Luka Doncic is currently wearing the crown.
Since he moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, the "Luka Magic" hype has reached a fever pitch. He isn’t just leading the Western Conference; he is leading the entire league with over 2.2 million votes as of the second returns. That's a massive statement. Usually, we see LeBron James or Stephen Curry parked at the #1 spot, but the 2026 landscape looks a lot different.
The International Takeover is Real
Look at the top of the list. It’s wild.
Luka (Slovenia) is first. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) is leading the Eastern Conference with nearly 2.1 million votes. Nikola Jokic (Serbia) is right there in the mix. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) and Victor Wembanyama (France) are practically locks for starting spots.
This matters more than usual this year. Why? Because the NBA is ditching the old East vs. West game for a USA vs. World format. Well, sort of. It’s actually a three-team round-robin tournament featuring two U.S. squads and one "World" team. If the current nba all star voting returns hold steady, that World team is going to be absolutely terrifying. Imagine a lineup with Luka, Shai, Giannis, Jokic, and Wemby.
How does a U.S. team even guard that?
The LeBron James Streak is in Danger
This is the part that feels wrong to even type. For the first time in over two decades, LeBron James is not the leading vote-getter. In fact, he’s sliding. In the latest update, LeBron actually found himself down at 9th in the Western Conference.
Twenty-one seasons. That's how long he's been an All-Star.
While he’s still likely to make the team—especially with the Lakers’ massive fan base and the media likely giving him the nod—the fan vote shows a clear shift. People are gravitating toward the highlight reels of Tyrese Maxey and the sheer dominance of Anthony Edwards. Even Austin Reaves is nipping at the heels of some perennial All-Stars, sitting at 10th in the West fan voting.
Who’s Getting Snubbed?
Devin Booker is not happy. He basically said as much to the media recently, pointing out that even though he’s got the Phoenix Suns playing some of the best basketball in the league, the fan votes aren't reflecting it. He’s currently stuck at 17th in the West.
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He’s not wrong.
The fan vote counts for 50% of the starter selection, while players and media account for 25% each. Booker is a "player's player," meaning he'll probably get more love from his peers than from someone clicking a button on the NBA app from their couch. But it's a tough climb when you're competing with the massive global markets of LA and New York.
Then you have guys like Scottie Barnes. The Toronto Raptors have been pushing hard for him, and it’s working. He cracked the top 20 in the East after a slow start. It just goes to show how much a team’s social media machine can influence these nba all star voting returns.
The "Positionless" Problem
One big change for 2026 is that the league has gone positionless for the All-Star ballot. You aren't picking two guards and three frontcourt players anymore. You just pick the five best players.
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This is a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it fixes the "too many good centers" problem in the West. On the other, it might lead to some weirdly unbalanced teams. If the fans decide they want five point guards on the floor at once, that’s what we might get. The coaches still pick the reserves, though, so they'll likely try to inject some common sense back into the rosters.
How the 2026 Format Changes the Stakes
The Intuit Dome in Inglewood is hosting this year, and the NBA wants a show. The new format is a bit complex:
- Three Teams: Two USA teams (16 players total) and one World team (8 players).
- Round Robin: Team A plays Team B, then the winner plays Team C, etc.
- The Final: The two best teams play a 12-minute championship game.
Because the World team only has 8 spots, the competition among international players is actually tighter than for the Americans. If you're a guy like Alperen Sengun or Lauri Markkanen, you’re fighting for one of only a few reserve spots behind the "Big Five" of Luka, Giannis, Jokic, SGA, and Wemby.
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What You Should Do Next
If your favorite player is hovering on the bubble, the clock is ticking. Voting officially closes on January 14, 2026.
Keep an eye out for the "3-for-1" days. The NBA usually designates a few days where every vote you cast counts triple. If you want to see someone like Devin Booker or Jaylen Brown jump up the rankings, those are the days to spam the submit button.
Check the official NBA app or NBA.com to cast your ballot. The starters will be announced on January 19, and that’s when the real debates will start. For now, the nba all star voting returns suggest a massive changing of the guard is finally here.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify the 3-for-1 Days: Check the NBA’s official social media channels for the final triple-vote dates before the January 14 deadline.
- Review the World Team Eligibility: If a player has dual citizenship, the Commissioner (Adam Silver) has the final say on which roster they join to balance the 16-US/8-World split.
- Watch the Injury Report: Starters who can't play will be replaced by the Commissioner, which often opens the door for "snubbed" players like Booker or Domantas Sabonis.
- Compare Stats vs. Votes: Use sites like Basketball-Reference to see if the fan leaders actually have the efficiency ratings to back up their lead before the media/player votes (the other 50%) come in.