New York (AFP)

Brooklyn star Kevin Durant, author of dazzling return to the game after a year and a half away, and Lakers' King LeBron James lead fan votes for All-Star Game that may well take place in March.

Just before the season, the NBA canceled the event initially planned in Indianapolis, due to the coronavirus pandemic which forced it to plan a fairly tight schedule.

But in recent days various media have claimed that it should finally be held on March 7 in Atlanta.

This Thursday, The Athletic even reports that the league and the players' union (NBPA) have reached an agreement and that formalization is imminent.

In the meantime, on the voting front, Durant, author of a very impressive start to the championship (30.8 points, 2nd best scorer in the league, 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 average assists), leads the votes, with 2,302,705 votes, just ahead of James (25 pts, 7.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists) who has 2,288,676.

Their lead is such that they should be the captains of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference teams.

Just behind is another ghost, Stephen Curry (2,113,178) whose last season was weighed down by a broken hand and who shines (28.2 pts, 6.1 assists, 5.7 rbds) again with Golden State.

Follow in the West, the two European pearls, the Serbian Nikola Jokic (Denver) and the Slovenian Luka Doncic (Dallas), as well as Kawhi Leonard (Clippers).

At this stage, only Anthony Davis, 6th in number of votes but far from being won, can reverse the popular trend.

In the East, the reigning double MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is the second player with the most votes, followed by Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Bradley Beal, the season's top scorer (35.7 pts on average) who makes a remarkable entry in this provisional ranking, and Kyrie Irving who is just ahead of James Harden came to train with him and Durant in the famous "Big 3" of the Nets.

On the French side, Rudy Gobert does not appear in the list of the ten most popular interiors.

Last year he tasted his first selection at the All-Star Game after being selected by the coaches, who choose the replacements.

The internet voting started a week ago and will end on February 16.

The five adults will be announced on the 18th and the replacements will be appointed on the 23rd.

© 2021 AFP