In an exciting twist for fans of basketball, the NBA is set to introduce a new three-team format for its All-Star Game, featuring a showdown between two USA teams and one international team. This year marks the event’s return to NBC while also making its debut on Peacock, coinciding perfectly with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Leading the fan voting for the All-Star Game are two exceptional international players, with Luka Dončić of the Lakers garnering the most votes in the Western Conference—1,249,518—and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks leading the Eastern Conference with 1,192,296 votes. The top five vote-getters revealed the prominence of international talent, as five out of the ten starters are players from outside the United States.
As it stands, the potential starters based on fan voting include:
**Western Conference:**
– Luka Dončić, Lakers – 1,249,518 votes
– Nikola Jokić, Nuggets – 1,128,962 votes
– Stephen Curry, Warriors – 1,031,455 votes
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder – 878,621 votes
– Victor Wembanyama, Spurs – 769,362 votes
**Eastern Conference:**
– Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks – 1,192,296 votes
– Tyrese Maxey, 76ers – 1,072,449 votes
– Jalen Brunson, Knicks – 1,040,601 votes
– Cade Cunningham, Pistons – 1,000,171 votes
– Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers – 851,155 votes
The fan voting process remains unchanged, allowing fans to select five starters irrespective of position. These votes, combined with input from players and media, will determine the starters for the game set to occur on February 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the LA Clippers. Following the selection of the ten starters, coaches will vote for seven reserves from each conference, culminating in a total of 24 All-Star players.
The newly formatted All-Star Game will divide these players into three teams, engaging in a round-robin style tournament consisting of four 12-minute games. The excitement will build up as the top two teams face off in a championship game to crown the All-Star champion of the day.
Viewers can tune in to NBA action on both NBC and Peacock, with Peacock NBA Monday set to stream multiple games throughout the regular season, alongside NBC’s scheduled broadcasts. The anticipation is building for this innovative structure and the showcase of both USA talent and the NBA’s diverse international representation.