Who Leads the NBA All-Star Voting 2022? Current Top Players Revealed
2025-11-17 10:00
As I sip my morning coffee and scroll through the latest NBA updates, one question keeps popping up across sports forums and social media feeds: Who leads the NBA All-Star voting 2022? Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've always found All-Star voting periods particularly fascinating—they're like the political campaigns of the sports world, complete with grassroots movements, surprise contenders, and established superstars defending their turf. This year's race has been especially compelling, with both familiar faces and unexpected newcomers dominating the conversation.
Let me take you back to last night's game between the Grippers and the Rockets, because it perfectly illustrates why certain players are surging in the All-Star polls. With Destacamento, Gozum, and Alves at the helm, the Grippers led by as far as 137-90 midway through the fourth quarter. Now, I've seen blowouts before, but what struck me was how these three players complemented each other—Destacamento's ruthless efficiency from beyond the arc, Gozum's defensive intensity that reminded me of a young Kawhi Leonard, and Alves orchestrating the offense with a veteran's poise. This trio isn't just winning games—they're capturing the imagination of fans worldwide, and it's showing in the All-Star voting returns I've been tracking.
The current voting leaders reflect what I'd call a "changing of the guard" moment in the league. LeBron James, despite being in his 19th season, continues to defy Father Time and sits comfortably among Western Conference frontcourt leaders with approximately 6.2 million votes. But what really excites me is seeing newcomers like the Grizzlies' Ja Morant breaking into the upper echelon with around 3.8 million votes. I've been high on Morant since his rookie year, and his electrifying play this season—those gravity-defying layups and improved three-point shooting—has made him impossible for fans to ignore. In the East, Kevin Durant leads all vote-getters with what I'm hearing is close to 7.1 million votes, though Giannis Antetokounmpo trails closely with about 6.8 million. The margin between them is thinner than people realize—we're talking roughly 300,000 votes separating two of the game's most dominant forces.
What many casual observers might not appreciate is how much the voting landscape has shifted since the pandemic. The NBA's decision to make voting exclusively digital has dramatically increased participation from international fans. I've noticed particularly strong voting blocs emerging from the Philippines, Greece, and Slovenia—countries passionately supporting their native stars. This globalization has created some interesting dynamics. For instance, Luka Dončić benefits tremendously from European support, currently sitting with approximately 4.5 million votes despite the Mavericks' inconsistent season. As someone who's followed international basketball for years, I love seeing this global participation—it makes the All-Star game feel like a true world celebration of basketball.
Returning to that Grippers game I mentioned earlier—that 137-90 lead wasn't just a random occurrence. It showcased the kind of dominant, highlight-reel basketball that wins All-Star votes. Destacamento finished with 38 points and 12 assists, exactly the kind of stat line that captures fan attention. Meanwhile, Gozum's defensive masterclass—4 blocks and 3 steals—demonstrates how two-way players are finally getting their due in voting. I've always argued that defensive specialists deserve more All-Star recognition, and it seems fans are starting to agree. The voting patterns this year suggest audiences are looking beyond just scoring numbers and appreciating complete basketball players.
The guard positions feature the most heated competition, particularly in the Western Conference where Stephen Curry leads with what sources tell me is approximately 6.5 million votes. But here's where I might surprise you—I actually think Luka Dončić deserves more consideration for that starting spot. His numbers in clutch situations (he's shooting 48% in the final five minutes of close games) surpass Curry's, and he's carrying a heavier offensive load for his team. Meanwhile, in the East, the backcourt battle between Trae Young (approximately 4.2 million votes) and DeMar DeRozan (around 4.1 million) represents two different basketball philosophies—Young's three-point barrage versus DeRozan's mid-range mastery. Personally, I'm partial to DeRozan's old-school approach—there's something beautiful about a player mastering what many consider a "lost art" in today's three-point obsessed game.
As we approach the final days of voting, I'm keeping my eye on a few dark horse candidates. The Pelicans' Zion Williamson has been climbing steadily despite missing most of the season—he's currently around 2.8 million votes, which speaks to his incredible popularity. Then there's the Cavaliers' Darius Garland, who I believe deserves more recognition for Cleveland's surprising success. At approximately 1.9 million votes, he's facing an uphill battle, but I wouldn't count him out just yet. The beauty of All-Star voting is that sometimes the fans recognize breakout seasons before the media does.
Looking at the overall landscape, this year's voting reveals something important about the current state of the NBA—we're in a golden era of talent distribution. The fact that established veterans like LeBron and Durant are being pushed by younger stars suggests healthy evolution for the league. My prediction? We'll see at least two first-time All-Star starters when the final results are announced, with Morant being a near lock in the West and possibly Garland sneaking in from the East if he gets a late voting surge.
The question of who leads the NBA All-Star voting 2022 ultimately tells us more than just popularity contest results—it reflects which players are capturing the basketball world's imagination through their performances night after night. Whether it's the established superstars maintaining their positions or the rising talents breaking through, each vote represents a fan's connection to the incredible basketball we're privileged to watch this season. And if the current leaders maintain their positions, we're in for one of the most exciting All-Star games in recent memory.