Seven potential first-time players highlight 2023 NBA All-Star voting

The NBA's first round of 2023 All-Star voting returns features seven potential first-time selectees. No new players make up the top four of either the Eastern or the Western Conference forwards or guards.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole highlight the seven potential new players in the NBA's returns. 

Fan votes count for 50% of the total All-Star votes, while NBA players and media account for 25% each, according to NBA Communications. Though players like Lakers guard Austin Reaves and Warriors forward Kevon Looney may have their time in the NBA spotlight for now, but they'll have to earn the respect of both their fellow players and media voters if they want to keep their hopes of making the All-Star team alive come February.

That doesn't mean they don't have a chance.

Last year's All-Star team featured seven first-time All-Stars, including Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins and Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet. Wiggins placed in third for Western Conference fan voting with just over 3.4 million fan votes, while VanVleet placed in seventh for the Eastern Conference guard voting with just under 819,000 votes, according to Basketball Reference.

Though then-Lakers guard Alex Caruso made an impressive run when he headlined the first round of the 2021 NBA All-Star returns, his zero player votes and zero media votes for the Western Conference backcourt selections ultimately left him out of the 2021 All-Star game.

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James lead the East and West with just above 3.1 million votes each. Durant and James would earn their 13th and 19th All-Star selections. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Nets guard Kyrie Irving round out the leaders for the West and East guard selections.

15 players, including Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, are 25 years or younger. Last year's teams featured nine players that were 25 or less, including two All-Star starters in Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

All-Star votes will count three times during the NBA's "3-for-1 Day" on Thursday. The next All-Star votes update will be released on Jan. 12.