The second round of NBA All-Star voting dropped Tuesday, and the numbers reveal something fascinating about where the league is headed. Jalen Brunson just passed Tyrese Maxey for second place in the Eastern Conference — by exactly 7,519 votes.
That margin matters more than you'd think.
Brunson's rise to 1,916,497 total votes reflects a voting pattern that rewards consistency over flash. While Maxey's game is built on electric speed and highlight plays, Brunson has quietly become the most reliable point guard in the East. His usage rate is up, his assist numbers are elite, and the Knicks are winning. The fans noticed.
The real All-Star race is getting interesting
Giannis Antetokounmpo still leads the East with 2,092,284 votes — no surprise there. The man is averaging more than a point per minute, something we haven't seen since Wilt Chamberlain. But behind him, the race is tighter than expected:
- Jalen Brunson (NYK): 1,916,497
- Tyrese Maxey (PHI): 1,908,978
- Cade Cunningham (DET): 1,752,801
- Donovan Mitchell (CLE): 1,530,237
- Jaylen Brown (BOS): 1,514,259
That Cunningham number is significant. Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference, and their franchise cornerstone is finally getting recognition. His +8.5 on/off net rating tells a story that raw stats miss — when Cunningham plays, the Pistons win. When he doesn't, they collapse.
Meanwhile, in Houston...
The Western Conference picture just got complicated. Alperen Şengün — the Rockets' All-Star center averaging 22.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists — went down with a right ankle sprain Saturday against Dallas.
Coach Ime Udoka delivered the frustrating news Monday: "You're looking at probably 10-14 days."
That's a significant blow for a Houston team competing for a top seed. Şengün does everything for the Rockets — he creates, he finishes, he facilitates. Without him against the Mavs, Houston got outscored 66-54 in the paint and lost 110-104 despite Kevin Durant dropping 34 points.
The silver lining? Tari Eason stepped up with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a season-high 34 minutes. If Şengün misses extended time, Eason and Clint Capela will need to carry the frontcourt load. That's asking a lot.
A quiet Celtics revelation
Lost in the shuffle: Anfernee Simons is thriving in Boston.
Traded from Portland for Jrue Holiday last summer, Simons has adapted to a bench role that seemed beneath his talent. But here's what the data shows — since joining the Celtics, he's shooting better from three than at any point since 2022. He's averaging 15.2 points over his last nine games, and Boston has gone 8-1 in those contests.
Monday night against the Bulls, Simons erupted for a season-high 27 points, hitting 8 of 11 threes in the final two quarters.
"It's been fun implementing myself into this culture," Simons told reporters afterward. "I feel like I've grown so much in a lot of areas."
When Portland traded him, the assumption was that Boston got a declining asset on an expiring contract. Instead, they got a microwave scorer who's rediscovered his shot in a system that values spacing and movement.
What the voting tells us
The All-Star voting closes January 14, with starters announced January 19. Here's what the current numbers suggest:
In the East, expect Giannis, Brunson, and Cunningham to lock up starting spots if trends hold. Brown is lurking — he just dropped 50 on the Clippers — but he's running behind in fan voting.
Out West, Luka Dončić leads everyone with 2,229,811 votes. Nikola Jokić, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander follow. Victor Wembanyama is fifth, which feels both deserved and premature at the same time.
The new All-Star format — a USA vs. World round-robin tournament — adds intrigue to the international vote. Şengün, born in Turkey, was pulling solid numbers (871,952) before his injury. Deni Avdija (1,224,109) has cracked the top ten and might actually deserve it after his breakout year in Portland.
Voting is 50% fan, 25% media, 25% players. The fans get it right sometimes. This year, they're getting it right more than usual.