More players deserve to be in the NBA All-Star Game than teams have spots. Even with the league changing to a strange new All-Star format this season, voting for the starter will remain the same. Three frontcourt players and two backcourt players will be selected from each conference, with fan voting accounting for 50% of the final tally, and player voting and media voting each accounting for the remaining 25%.
The first round of fan voting for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game is now available, and there are already some big hits and misses. The league plans to release two more updates this month before starters are announced on Thursday, January 23rd. All-Star reserves will be announced on January 30th. Read our take on the new NBA All-Star format here.
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. Here's an overview of the 2025 NBA All-Star voting and a breakdown of fans' correct and incorrect answers.
What fans got right so far in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game poll
- Eastern Conference frontcourt is perfect: Pin it now. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Karl-Anthony Towns should all be starters in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo is a serious MVP candidate right now, and you could argue that he's having the best year of his career after leading the Bucks to an NBA Cup title. Tatum has once again excelled with the Celtics and is on track to be named first-team All-NBA for the fourth straight season. KAT, who accepted the bold trade just before the start of the season, performed as well as the Knicks expected. The big man averages 25 points per game on an impressive 66.2 percent shooting and leads the league in rebounding. This should be the East Front Court, so there is no need to apply any other name.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is circling the field in backcourt voting.: The best guard in the NBA lives in Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently in a close battle for MVP with Nikola Jokic, leading the Thunder to the top of the West division after senior teammate Chet Holmgren suffered a serious hip injury. SGA scores 30+ points on a nightly basis with the most unstoppable mid-range scoring package in the league. It would be understandable if Stephen Curry jumped over him in the voting in a game played in his home arena, but fans were well aware of Gilgeous-Alexander's greatness.
- Donovan Mitchell should be rewarded for Cavs' great start: The Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the NBA this year, with a 29-4 record to start the season. One of the reasons the Cavaliers are doing so well is because Mitchell doesn't have to carry as much of a burden this year, thanks to the growth of other players. The star guard is averaging his fewest field goal attempts and points per game since his rookie year, but he's still outstanding in his chances. The Cavaliers could take up to three All-Stars (and Jarrett Allen will likely help headline the snub list), but it makes sense to take starters, even if usage rates drop. Even so, Mitchell remains the obvious pick.
What fans have gotten wrong so far in voting for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game
- Hey, LaMelo Ball shouldn't be the leading East backcourt vote getter.:I'm as big a fan of LaMelo Ball as they are. I ranked him as a top prospect for the 2020 NBA Draft and have been encouraged by his development since then. Ball is having a great year as a one-four player, currently averaging over 30 points per game, but has struggled to stay healthy and impact wins again. Charlotte's record in Ball's games was just 6 wins and 16 losses. He shouldn't start ahead of Jalen Brunson in the East's backcourt. Speaking of East’s backcourt…
- Why did Darius Garland miss out on the top 10 of the East Backcourt Poll? Garland has been a sensation for Cleveland this year, and his return to stardom after breaking his jaw last season has been a major reason the Cavs have been so successful thus far. I had to double-check this list to read correctly that Jordan Poole is in the top 10 of the East Backcourt poll, but Garland is not. Garland, who averaged 20.5 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 42.7 percent from 3-point range, is a good fit to start in the East. He has become one of the most underrated players in the league.
- For the Western team, Victor Wembaneyama is expected to start this game. But it's hard to get too angry at fans who want to see LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Wemby is better than both of them, establishing himself as the best defender in the league before he was even old enough to enter the bar. He is a clear All-NBA candidate this year and will give the Spurs a chance to make the playoffs. Wenby has a long MVP battle ahead of him, but there's no telling how many more times we'll see LeBron and KD at the All-Star Game. The Spurs' young star should be a starter, but I'm not too mad about that. By the way, someone please give Jaren Jackson Jr. some more votes. Because he's been phenomenal for the Grizzlies this year.
