The NBA has released the first fan voting results for the 2026 All-Star Game, revealing that Turkish international Alperen Şengün is currently ranked 11th in the Western Conference with 308,346 votes.
Şengün, who plays for the Houston Rockets, narrowly missed the top ten in the initial voting phase but remains within reach as fan voting continues until January 14, 2026, the league announced.
Doncic and Jokic lead the West
In the Western Conference, Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers leads the fan vote with 1,249,518 votes, followed closely by Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić with 1,128,962 votes.
Giannis tops the East
In the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks sits at the top with 1,192,296 votes, while Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey follows with 1,072,449 votes.
All-Star Game to be held in Los Angeles
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on February 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Voting will determine the starters through a weighted system: fans account for 50% of the vote, current NBA players 25%, and a media panel the remaining 25%. The remaining roster spots will be selected by NBA head coaches.
Alperen Şengün’s position reflects both his rising profile in the NBA and the growing global visibility of Turkish basketball. While ranking 11th does not yet guarantee All-Star selection, the close margins suggest that international fan engagement could play a decisive role in the coming weeks.
The strong performances of established stars like Dončić, Jokić, and Antetokounmpo highlight the continued dominance of international players at the top of the NBA hierarchy, underscoring how the league’s global character is now firmly entrenched.
Source: AA
