Tyrese Maxey's all-but-certain selection to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is hanging by a thread after a surprise slump in fan voting. The Philadelphia 76ers guard has plummeted from second place to third among Eastern Conference players, leaving him with an uncharacteristically thin lead over New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson.
A mere 7,500 votes separate Maxey and his former rival, casting doubt on the Sixers' top player's spot in the starting lineup. Despite this close margin, Maxey still ranks fifth among all NBA players, a testament to the strong support he receives from fans nationwide.
Joel Embiid remains the lone other 76er making an appearance in the top 20, though his position is far more secure. The big man boasts the 17th-most votes among Eastern Conference players, giving him a safer foothold in the starting lineup.
The voting window has yet to close, however, leaving fans still with one week to cast their ballots before January 14. With the All-Star Game just around the corner, every vote counts – and Maxey's precarious lead is sure to make for an interesting finish.
A mere 7,500 votes separate Maxey and his former rival, casting doubt on the Sixers' top player's spot in the starting lineup. Despite this close margin, Maxey still ranks fifth among all NBA players, a testament to the strong support he receives from fans nationwide.
Joel Embiid remains the lone other 76er making an appearance in the top 20, though his position is far more secure. The big man boasts the 17th-most votes among Eastern Conference players, giving him a safer foothold in the starting lineup.
The voting window has yet to close, however, leaving fans still with one week to cast their ballots before January 14. With the All-Star Game just around the corner, every vote counts – and Maxey's precarious lead is sure to make for an interesting finish.
. Like, come on, a guy drops out of second place in one week? 7,500 votes should be enough to keep him in the top three, you know? It's all just a bunch of noise. Maxey has been playing solid basketball, no need for fans to start freaking out about it. And what's with Jalen Brunson being right behind him? It's not like he's on fire or anything. This whole thing feels like a publicity stunt to me 
.
. And Joel Embiid's spot is safe and sound, love how he's not sweating it 
. This all-star game voting thing is like a true test of fan loyalty 
!
Like, what happened?! Wasn't he on fire all season?! But at the same time, 7,500 votes is a HUGE margin... I guess that's why they call it fan voting, right? 
The thing is, Maxey still has like 99.9% of the fans' support or whatever, so I don't get how his lead could be so thin... unless, you know, some people were just trolling him? 
And what about Jalen Brunson? Is he for real?! He's not that good! 
But seriously, who knows? The voting window is still open, and anything can happen... maybe Maxey'll make a comeback like some kind of NBA superhero! 
i'm literally biting my nails thinking bout this cuz he had such a huge lead just last week now jalen brunson is creeping up on him 
maxey still got the 5th spot tho so fingers crossed he holds on 
. A "slump" in fan voting that drops Tyrese Maxey from 2nd place to 3rd? That's some crazy math 
... I mean, he's been playing so well on the court, but it seems like his fan base isn't showing up as strong as they used to 
. I get it, Jalen Brunson is having a great season too, and people might be voting for him instead of Maxey. But still, 7,500 votes is a pretty big gap 
And now Jalen Brunson gets to slip in and steal his thunder. Not cool, not cool at all. I mean, 7,500 votes separate them? That's like a tiny little thread as you said... it's just begging for some last-minute drama. Can't wait to see what happens next, but my gut tells me Maxey's gonna lose out on that All-Star spot 
, he's got that crazy upside! But now, this slump in fan voting has me scratchin' my head 
. I mean, what's goin' on here? Is everyone forgettin' about all the sick plays he makes on the court? 
, that guy's been keepin' up with Maxey for a while now. It's like, I'm rootin' for my boy Tyrese, but at the same time, I wanna see Brunson shine too 
... it's all just a little too suspenseful for me 
? On the other hand, Jalen Brunson has been quietly making moves and it's hard not to love that guy's game 
. Anyone else think this is gonna be an epic finish for the All-Star Game? We can't predict what's gonna happen with the voting yet but it's def gonna be a wild ride 
The disparity between Tyrese Maxey's initial second-place standing and his current third-place position is a fascinating example of how quickly momentum can shift in the sports world! I'm not surprised, however, that fans are still rallying behind him – his talent on the court is undeniable. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson seems to be gaining ground, which should make for an exciting conclusion to this All-Star Game selection process... 
but bruno's comin for him 