The NBA on Thursday released the second batch of returns for All-Star fan voting and Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija landed among the top 10 on Western Conference ballots.
Avdija received the seventh-most votes (1,224,109) in the West, one spot ahead of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (1,059,855) and one spot behind Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1,246,423).
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić led all Western Conference players with 2,229,811 votes.
Avdija is in the middle of a breakout season with the Blazers, averaging 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists, while shooting 46.8% from the field. His play has been instrumental in keeping the Blazers (17-20) afloat as a slew of injuries have threatened to derail a promising season.
The sixth-year forward ranks 13th in the NBA in scoring and 10th in assists, and he leads the Blazers in scoring (957 points), assists (264) and free throws (288), while ranking second in rebounds (269) and three-pointers made (239). And while the Blazers’ roster has been besieged by injuries and illnesses — 11 different players have combined to miss 199 games this season — he’s been both dependable and durable, playing an NBA-high 1,301 minutes and starting all 36 games.
Throughout it all, as the Blazers have played the last 25 games without a natural point guard, Avdija has evolved into the team’s primary ballhandler and playmaker. He’s reached double-digits in assists nine times and recorded three triple-doubles.
Earlier this week, Avdija was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
Has Avdija’s ascension prompted him to imagine his All-Star game chances?
“No,” he said Monday night, after torching the Utah Jazz for 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 137-117 victory. “I first of all want to say I appreciate the fans. Crazy. I saw that I was seventh on the votes, and people are actually, like, putting a lot of effort and voting for me and wanting me to be there.
“But it’s not in my control. I can only play and be focused on winning and playing good with the team. But I just appreciate the fan support around the world. That really gave me a chance to maybe be there. It’s a big honor.”
Fan voting concludes on Jan. 14 at 8:59 p.m. and All-Star starters will be revealed on Jan. 19. They are selected based on a weighted scale of fan, media and player votes, with fans representing 50% of the tally and players (25%) and media (25%) accounting for the rest. All-Star reserves will be selected by a vote of NBA coaches.
This year’s All-Star game features a new, three-team, round-robin format. Two teams will be made up of U.S. players, while the third will be comprised of international players.
According to the league, if voting results do not produce 16 U.S. players and eight international players, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select additional All-Stars to join either group to reach that minimum.
The All-Star game is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Here’s a look at the returns of the second batch of All-Star ballots for the Western Conference:
1. Luka Doncic - 2,229,811
2. Nikola Jokic - 1,998,560
3. Stephen Curry - 1,844,903
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 1,554,468
5. Victor Wembanyama - 1,321,985
6. Anthony Edwards - 1,246,423
7. Deni Avdija - 1,224,109
8. LeBron James - 1,059,855
9. Kevin Durant - 997,386
10. Alperen Sengun - 871,952
11. Austin Reaves - 718,799
12. James Harden - 400,282
13. Kawhi Leonard - 275,361
14. Anthony Davis - 269,979
15. Jamal Murray - 260,014
16. Cooper Flagg - 236,182
17. Devin Booker - 232,075
18. Lauri Markkanen - 221,110
19. Jimmy Butler - 208,900
20. Stephon Castle - 171,831