It was a bit surprising to see Nikola Jokic leading the fan-voting for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game upon early returns, but perhaps it was no fluke. In past years, even while Jokic was dominating the league, he still wasn’t resonating on that level with the fans. He had never been at the top of the conference in fan votes, and never even had he been in the top four overall.
That’s despite multiple MVP awards and leading his team to a championship. He still wasn’t unseating the old guard and the likes of guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and others. Jokic was still starting in the game and getting his proper due, it was just odd to see the fans not rewarding him in the same way.
But this season, there has been a marked change. Jokic was leading the conference and second overall in the first returns. He kept those same spots in the second results release, and the same remained true in round three, with his lead only growing.
Jokic 2nd in All-Star voting, 1st in West
These returns are promising to see. Do they really matter in the grand scheme of things? No. Does Jokic care at all? Almost certainly not. But still, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get what he deserves. Jokic has carved out a legacy in the NBA that is Teflon, and he should be regarded as such by the fans.
He’s as big a star as there is and he’s a pleasure to watch play. His game may not be as sexy or conventional as other stars, but his uniqueness makes it even more amazing to watch. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be a fan favorite, and it seems like that is finally becoming the case.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the entire league in fan votes with almost 3.5 million, but Jokic is second with 2.92 million while Jayson Tatum is third with 2.84 million votes. That’s easily tops in the Western Conference, edging out James, who has 2.59 million, Durant with 2.5 million, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 2.41 million.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić lead their respective conferences in the third fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 16, 2025
Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. Players and a media panel account for 25% each. pic.twitter.com/FBGGd00GB2
With voting closing in just a handful of days, it appears Jokic is finally destined to win the fan vote for his conference. Starting in the All-Star Game is a formality for Jokic at this point, but now he can finally say he swept the voting process - as the media and players will surely have him at the top of their lists as well.
A meaningless accolade, but a well-deserved one all the same.