(670 The Score) Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is trending toward starting the All-Star Game.
DeRozan leads Eastern Conference guards in the initial returns of fan voting, which the NBA released Thursday. While DeRozan usually plays one of the forward positions for the Bulls, he's listed in the backcourt in All-Star voting, which will help pave the way for him to start given that the East is loaded with frontcourt stars.
DeRozan has garnered nearly 1.5 million votes early on, which easily outpaces the Nets' James Harden (892,065) among East guards. Fellow Bulls star Zach LaVine is fourth among East guards with 776,043 votes.
The Nets' Kevin Durant leads the East in fan voting with more than 2.36 million votes, followed by the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (2.14 million-plus). Here's a look at the voting so far.
Fan voting makes up 50% of the All-Star ballot in deciding the starters for the game. Media and player voting also make up 25% apiece.
NBA head coaches select the All-Star reserves. Two team player captains then hold a draft to select their squads among the players who were named All-Stars, regardless of conference affiliation.
TNT will reveal the All-Star starters and team captains on Jan. 27. Reserves will then be revealed on Feb. 3. The All-Star Game will be held on Feb. 20 in Cleveland.
