James Harden maintains voting lead for All-Star Game start

In an updated tally, Rockets guard James Harden is maintaining his big lead in fan votes to be a starter in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

In the second of three weekly updates from the NBA each Thursday, Houston Rockets star James Harden is maintaining his sizable lead in fan votes to be a backcourt starter in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

Harden has been an All-Star in all seven of his completed seasons with the Rockets, and a starter in five of them.

Harden currently ranks second in fan voting among Western Conference guards, trailing only Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic, who hails from Slovenia and brings a significant international voting presence, nearly leads the entire NBA in early voting results.

The fan vote accounts for half of the voting that determines All-Star starters. Players make up 25%, as does a panel of media members.

While votes from the latter two groups are not yet known, it’s hard to imagine Harden not in the top two of West guards by many voters (if any). The 2018 MVP is averaging a league-leading 38.5 points per game, which is the highest total of any player in the last 56 years and the most by a guard ever. He’s also in the NBA’s top 10 in assists at 7.6 per game.

Fellow Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 24.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, is fifth in the fan voting among Western Conference guards. However, barring an injury to Doncic or Harden, there wouldn’t appear to be a path for Westbrook to start.

However, Westbrook could still make the All-Star Game as a reserve. All 30 NBA coaches are given a ballot with the ability to select three frontcourt players, two backcourt players, and two wild-card picks from each conference. Westbrook has been an All-Star in eight of the last nine seasons, and he was the game’s MVP in 2015 and 2016.

Besides Harden and Westbrook, no other Rockets player is currently in the top 10 of fan voting totals. Fan voting continues through Jan. 20, with a third interim update to come on Jan. 16. The game’s starters will be announced on Jan. 23, and the reserves on Jan. 30.

The player in each conference with the most fan votes will be named a team captain and subsequently draft his own roster for the game. At the moment, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks are on course for that honor.

The 2020 All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

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