Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA is returning to the standard East vs. West format for the 2024 All-Star Game, but that's not stopping familiar faces from leading the voting.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant lead the first round of votes released Thursday.
James, Durant and Stephen Curry remain among the most popular players in the sport despite the ongoing struggles of their respective teams.
The Lakers have lost eight of their last 10 regular-season games to drop to the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, coincidentally one spot ahead of Curry's Warriors.
Of course, neither James nor Curry are at fault for the struggles of their supporting casts. James is averaging 25.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 52.8 percent from the floor. It's by far the greatest NBA season we've ever seen from a 39-year-old as James continues to wipe the floor with Father Time.
Curry has been shouldering perhaps his biggest responsibility load since his playing days at Davidson with Klay Thompson being rendered ineffective and Draymond Green missing most of this season due to suspension. The workload has taken its toll, with Curry's scoring, assists and rebounds down from last season but he remains the fulcrum around which the Warriors run.
Durant has likewise seen his Phoenix Suns struggle to establish themselves as title contenders despite his stellar play. Of our three elder-statesman stalwarts, Durant has been the best on an individual level. He's averaging 29.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists while narrowly missing out on 50-40-90 splits, shouldering the load while Bradley Beal has spent most of the year out of the lineup.
As far as players whose teams are actually having success, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić look well on their way to battling head-to-head for a fourth straight MVP race. Embiid is averaging a career-high 34.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists as he's taken on even greater responsibility after James Harden's exit from Philadelphia. Jokić remains a bastion of offensive efficiency and brilliance, just narrowly missing out on averaging a triple-double.
Antetokounmpo overcame early growing pains with co-star Damian Lillard to put up his standard fare of 30.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and stellar defense.
Jayson Tatum looks bound for his fifth straight All-Star game in leading the Celtics to an NBA-best 26-7 record overall.
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