Trae Young leads Eastern Conference guards in NBA All-Star voting after first fan returns

Trae Young has been fantastic for the Atlanta Hawks this season and, as the calendar flips to 2020, the point guard is in a strong position when it comes to NBA All-Star voting. The NBA released the first fan returns on Thursday afternoon and, with more than two weeks to go until the final deadline, Young has more votes than any Eastern Conference guard.

As you can see in the graphic above (via the NBA), Young leads Kyrie Irving (who has missed the majority of the season with injury) and Kemba Walker in what appears to be shaping up as a three-man race for two positions in the fan voting. It is important to note, however, that fan voting accounts for only 50 percent of the formula in picking the All-Star starters, with 25 percent coming from a media panel and 25 percent from the players themselves.

In 31 games this season, Young is averaging 28.5 points and 8.3 assists per game. The 21-year-old guard lands fourth in the NBA in scoring and fifth in the NBA in assists.

In short, that statistical profile would usually be a recipe for All-Star inclusion, even if Young isn’t ultimately voted as a starter.

The All-Star Game will take place at the United Center in Chicago on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET, with voting for fans, players and media set to conclude on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The starters will be revealed on TNT during a broadcast on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Stay tuned.