With the release of the first interim fan voting results for the 2026 All-Star Game, Deni Avdija is ranked seventh among Western Conference players after receiving 606,299 votes. The standing is significant: a top-five finish in the West would guarantee Avdija a spot in the All-Star Game.
In the fan vote, Avdija is currently ahead of several of the league’s biggest names, including Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. He is ranked near the top alongside stars such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry. Doncic leads the West with more than 1.24 million votes, while Giannis Antetokounmpo tops the Eastern Conference.
The All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15 in Los Angeles. Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the final result and runs through January 14.
How All-Star voting works
The All-Star starters in each conference are selected through a weighted vote: fans account for 50 percent, while players and media members each make up 25 percent. Five starters are chosen from each conference. The figures released this week reflect only the fan vote.
As a result, even if Avdija climbs into the top five in the Western Conference fan rankings, ahead of players such as Victor Wembanyama or Anthony Edwards, his place would still not be guaranteed. He would need strong support from players and the media as well.
The remaining seven roster spots in each conference are filled by votes from the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who select reserves from their own conference. In total, 24 players are chosen for the All-Star Game.
This year’s event will feature a new format. The 24 players will be divided into three teams of eight: two teams of American players and one team of international players. If fewer than eight international players are selected, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint additional players to complete the roster.
What it means for Avdija
Avdija’s route to the All-Star Game remains complicated. Securing a starting spot in the West is unlikely, and it is unclear whether Western Conference coaches would select him as a reserve. However, his strong showing in the fan vote works in his favor.
If he is not selected as a reserve, Avdija’s chances may hinge on the number of international players chosen among the 24 All-Stars. If eight internationals are selected, he would be left out. If fewer than eight make the cut, Silver could still add him to the roster.
Players such as Doncic, Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama are widely considered locks. Avdija is competing for one of the remaining international slots against players including Lauri Markkanen, Alperen Sengun, Pascal Siakam and Franz Wagner. He is currently ranked sixth among international players in the fan vote.
Career-best season
Avdija’s strong All-Star push comes amid an outstanding season with Portland. Early Monday, he helped snap the Trail Blazers’ three-game losing streak with an impressive 114-108 home win over Boston, third in the Eastern Conference.
Avdija led Portland with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-10 from three-point range, added 10 assists and seven rebounds, and logged 39 minutes.
This season, he is averaging 25.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists over 32 games, numbers that have established him as one of Portland’s breakout stars. According to betting odds, Avdija is currently the leading favorite to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, ahead of Jalen Johnson, Jalen Duren and Josh Giddey.
