Second returns for the 2016 NBA All-Star game, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, are in and it remains highly likely that Paul George will once again be a starter for the Eastern Conference.
George in the 2014 NBA All-Star game, held in New Orleans.
George, a two-time NBA All-Star (one-time starter, 2014), has received the third-most votes (457,554) in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland’s LeBron James (636,388) and Miami’s Dwyane Wade (562,558).
Over the last two weeks, George has gained 173,768 votes.
Three frontcourt players will start, and George has almost 200,000 more votes than No. 3 Andre Drummond of Detroit (261,158).
George made his first appearance in the annual game in 2013. He finished with 17 points, three rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes off the bench.
Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 18. The starters will be announced three days later, during a one-hour special on TNT.
Complete rundown of votes through Thursday, Jan. 7:
Frontcourt
1 LeBron James (Cle) 636,388
2 Paul George (Ind) 457,554
3 Andre Drummond (Det) 261,158
4 Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 255,536
5 Pau Gasol (Chi) 209,006
6 Chris Bosh (Mia) 194,429
7 Kevin Love (Cle) 172,517
8 Hassan Whiteside (Mia) 168,549
9 Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) 160,170
10 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) 48,768
11 Jonas Valanciunas (Tor) 30,023
12 Marcin Gortat (Was) 27,185
13 Joakim Noah (Chi) 23,121
14 DeMarre Carroll (Tor) 22,797
15 Paul Millsap (Atl) 21,625
Guards
1 Dwyane Wade (Mia) 562,558
2 Kyrie Irving (Cle) 271,094
3 Kyle Lowry (Tor) 242,276
4 Jimmy Butler (Chi) 220,429
5 John Wall (Was) 207,274
6 DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 170,539
7 Derrick Rose (Chi) 159,787
8 Jeremy Lin (Cha) 122,988
9 Isaiah Thomas (Bos) 87,452
10 Reggie Jackson (Det) 44,525
Western Conference
Frontcourt
1 Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,262,118
2 Kevin Durant (OKC) 616,096
3 Draymond Green (GS) 332,223
4 Kawhi Leonard (SA) 330,929
5 Blake Griffin (LAC) 298,212
6 Anthony Davis (NO) 261,491
7 Tim Duncan (SA) 228,995
8 Zaza Pachulia (Dal) 194,421
9 DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 190,060
10 Enes Kanter (OKC) 183,468
11 LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) 124,404
12 Dwight Howard (Hou) 120,424
13 Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 99,681
14 DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 91,186
15 Harrison Barnes (GS) 82,427
Guards
1 Stephen Curry (GS) 925,789
2 Russell Westbrook (OKC) 479,512
3 Chris Paul (LAC) 268,672
4 Klay Thompson (GS) 267,602
5 James Harden (Hou) 249,877
6 Rajon Rondo (Sac) 120,767
7 Andre Iguodala (GS) 111,575
8 Manu Ginobili (SA) 100,602
9 Tony Parker (SA) 86,238
10 Damian Lillard (Por) 81,035