New York, United States (AFP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic set the pace in the first fan voting returns for next month’s NBA All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.

Fan voting counts for 50 per cent in balloting to decide starting spots in the All-Star Game, set for February 16 in San Francisco, with a media panel and current NBA players each accounting for 25% of final totals.

The NBA has changed the format for the 2025 matchup with a four-team tournament replacing the old two-team system. Teams picked by Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will be joined by the Rising Stars Challenge winners, guided by Women’s NBA legend Candace Parker.

Greek star Antetokounmpo paced the overall balloting first report with 1,710,630 votes to lead Eastern Conference frontcourt talent, followed by Boston’s Jayson Tatum on 1,385,851 and New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns on 1,099,966 with Orlando’s Paolo Banchero a distant fourth on 484,096.

Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball led East guards with 947,444 votes with Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell second on 718,084 and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard third on 704,914.

Three of the top five overall vote-getters led balloting for Western Conference forwards with Serbian centre Jokic atop the list at 1,422,121 followed by Phoenix’s Kevin Durant on 1,268,799 and LeBron James in third on 1,167,661.

Anthony Davis, a teammate of James on the Los Angeles Lakers, was fourth on 999,540 followed by French star Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio on 928,501.

Among West guards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led on 1,053,683 with Slovenian star Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks second on 870,071.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry was third on 810,357 with Kyrie Irving of Dallas next on 503,567 followed by Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards on 411,749.