Giannis Antetokounmpo, a star player for the Milwaukee Bucks, has emerged as the leading candidate in fan votes for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Currently, he has amassed approximately 1.7 million votes. Not far behind him is Nikola Jokić from the Denver Nuggets, totaling around 1.4 million votes, making him the top player from the Western Conference.

The top ten players lined up for potential starter selection, courtesy of fan voting, include: Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum from Boston, Karl-Anthony Towns from New York, LaMelo Ball from Charlotte, and Donovan Mitchell from Cleveland from the East; and Jokić, Kevin Durant from Phoenix, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City, Luka Dončić from Dallas, and LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers from the West.

This year’s All-Star Game is set for February 16 in San Francisco and will introduce a new format with three distinct games. From the total of 24 All-Stars, eight players will be selected for each of the three teams by TNT personalities and past NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith.

This change will replace the traditional ten-starter format, allowing for a more dynamic competition style, wherein the three teams will compete in a tournament setting. Each team will aim to be the first to reach 40 points to emerge victorious.

Voting will remain open until January 20, and the official announcement of the ten starters is scheduled for January 23, with reserves announced on January 30.