Fri Jan 09 00:30:00 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Dončić and Antetokounmpo Dominate NBA All-Star Voting Second Returns

The Story:
Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks continue to lead the NBA All-Star voting in their respective conferences after the second returns were announced on January 6, 2026. Dončić holds the top spot among all players with 2,229,811 votes, while Antetokounmpo leads the Eastern Conference with 2,092,284 votes. The fan voting, which accounts for 50% of the total vote, will conclude on January 14, 2026, and the All-Star starters will be revealed on January 19, 2026.

Key Points:
* Luka Dončić leads all NBA players in All-Star fan voting with 2,229,811 votes.
* Giannis Antetokounmpo tops the Eastern Conference with 2,092,284 votes.
* The top five in the Western Conference behind Dončić are Nikola Jokić, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama.
* The top five in the Eastern Conference behind Antetokounmpo are Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell.
* Fan voting concludes on January 14, 2026.
* All-Star starters will be revealed on January 19, 2026.
* The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be held on February 15, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
* The All-Star Game will feature a new format with two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players competing in a round-robin tournament.

Key Takeaways:

  • Luka Dončić’s popularity and performance continue to resonate strongly with fans, securing him the top spot in All-Star voting for the second consecutive return.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo maintains his stronghold in the Eastern Conference, reflecting his consistent dominance and widespread appeal.
  • The second voting returns largely mirror the initial results, suggesting that fan preferences are relatively stable.
  • The new All-Star Game format introduces a potentially exciting dynamic with U.S. vs. World team competition.
  • The high vote totals for players like Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey may indicate a shift in the landscape of popular players in the league.

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