Kevin Durant near the top of the 2024-2025 NBA All-Star Game fan poll

On By Littum

Kevin Durant was edged out by LeBron James in fan voting for the 2024-25 NBA All-Star Game this past week, the NBA revealed in third round of return Thursday.

Durant’s 2,498,843 votes now trail Western Conference frontcourt leader Nikola Jokic’s 2,924,436 and James’ 2,591,287.

Jokic was followed by Durant at the top of the Western Conference players through the first two rounds of fan returns.

Durant has a nearly 300,000 vote lead over Victor Wembanyama, who had 2,200,173 votes Wednesday.

Durant is averaging 27.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 52.4% shooting this season.

Suns guard Devin Booker remains ninth in the backcourt group, behind the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox and ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers’ Norman Powell.

Booker has been on a hot streak this month in terms of production, averaging 25.2 points and 6.9 assists per game for the season.

While 10 All-Star starters will be selected from the fan vote — five per conference — NBA coaches will select the reserves.

The 2024-25 NBA All-Star Game is changing its format

The league announced the final changes for the revamped All-Star Game, making it a one-night tournament — the Sunday night of All-Star weekend — and following the format that the Rising Stars Challenge for rookies and second-year players has used in recent years.

The All-Star format this year will see 24 players selected — 10 will be designated as starters, 14 as reserves, though that’s not how it will work out on game night.

The 24 players will be drafted into three teams of eight, and the Rising Stars winning team will go on to compete as the fourth team in the All-Star tournament. There will be two semi-final matches for 40 points, and then a final for 40 points.

How long is the 2024-25 NBA All-Star voting?

The fan vote runs through Monday. All-Star starters will be announced next Thursday and reserves revealed a week later on January 30.

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 16 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.