All five New York Knicks starters cracked the top-20 in the first returns for the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA All-Star Voting.
While Knicks captain Jalen Brunson received the third most votes, Karl-Anthony Towns came in at seventh, followed by OG Anunoby at 13th, Mikal Bridges at 15th and
Josh Hart at 16th.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo topped the early voting returns for the East, followed by Philadelphia 76ers‘ Tyrese Maxey, Brunson, Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Cleveland Cavaliers‘ Donovan Mitchell.
Josh Hart Thanks Knicks Fans
Hart, who has a chance to be a first-time All-Star, thanked Knicks fans for their overwhelming support, calling them the G.O.A.T. of all NBA fanbases.
“This is how you Knick fans are [GOAT emoji],” he wrote on Instagram.
While Brunson and Towns are locks to be named All-Stars for a second consecutive year, the other three Knicks starters’ chances hinge on rival NBA coaches. That’s because fans have a say only in voting for the starters, while the reserves are picked by the 30 head coaches. Per the league’s revised rules, starters for the exhibition contest are chosen by a combination of fans (50%), active players (25%) and media (25%).
Even if Towns doesn’t make the cut as a starter, he will almost surely make the list of reserves, judging by his steady production of 22.0 points and 11.9 rebounds in his second year in New York.
A Strong Case for OG Anunoby
Towns, who represents the Dominican Republic at the FIBA/Olympic stage, recently confirmed his preference to represent Team World over Team USA if he gets selected to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
“One, I hope I make it,” Towns said, via New York Post. “And two, I hope I’m on the World Team.
The NBA will introduce a new All-Star Game format this year, pitting two teams of U.S. players and a team of international players in a round-robin tournament.
As for the three Knicks starters, Anunoby has the strongest case to be named a first-time All-Star. The athletic wing has been, hands down, the Knicks’ best defensive player, and a key reason for Mike Brown’s team making considerable strides on defense this year. The Knicks have allowed opponents to shoot a respectable 46% from the field, which ranks seventh in the league — a huge upgrade from last year’s iteration under Tom Thibodeau, which ranked 25th in opponent FG% and 26th in opponent 3P%.
Anunoby, averaging a humble 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, recently explained why his overall impact doesn’t show up on a box score, making his case for the All-Star Game.
“If fans watch the game, beyond the box score, and notice the little things. And then, like, the two-way impact,” Anunoby said, via Daily Knicks’ Kris Pursiainen.
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