Predicting the East starters for the NBA All-Star Game 2020 based on latest fan vote returns

Frontcourt

Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks (Captain)

If there's one thing that an NBA player does not want to do in the modern game, it's to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has the ability to rummage through your guard like a freight train. He barely fails to put on a show on any night while also draining the absolute life out of his markers, both mentally and physically.

Giannis has been at the core of the Milwaukee revolution that began last season with the team currently almost guaranteed to finish at the top of the East rankings. Despite his monstrous MVP-winning campaign last season, he's only gone on to improve on his numbers averaging 30 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game this season. He is leading the vote count at the moment in the East and it's not even close with the second-placed Siakam trailing him by more than two million votes.

Pascal Siakam - Toronto Raptors

Siakam could become the first-ever player to win the MIP honor twice

For someone who started playing basketball at 17, Pascal Siakam's transformation has been a welcome sight for fans. He wowed the league when he upped his game to thrust the Toronto Raptors to a historic title win last season. However, when Kawhi Leonard left, Siakam hit the gas even harder and now sees the Raptors in a proper tussle for the second seed in the East.

With his 23.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, the Cameroonian more than deserves a starting spot for keeping the Toronto boat afloat following an offseason where they lost marquee pieces and most experts counted them out of a deep postseason run.

Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid is currently out following a surgery he underwent in his left hand

Rarely is the same man the best defensive player and the offensive player on a team. But that's exactly the case for Philadelphia 76ers, who practically see their entire game channeling through Joel Embiid. He's one of the worst players to be dealing with on both ends of the court, averaging 23.4 points per game going forward and effecting 1.4 blocks while holding fort.

Currently nursing his left hand following an injury he suffered in its ring finger and a subsequent surgery, Embiid's dexterity is certainly missed by Brett Brown's men who have only managed to split their last 10 games, despite being on a 3-game winning streak as of now. Arguably the best center in the league, the Cameroonian has racked up the 3rd highest votes in the East and it's clearly visible why.

Also read: Predicting the West starters for the NBA All-Star Game 2020 based on latest fan vote returns