Giannis Antetokounmpo ties Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most all-star selections as a Milwaukee Bucks player

At this stage in his career, there are no more awards to win for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Now, every year (and nearly every game), the 27-year-old Milwaukee Bucks superstar will be climbing historical team and NBA lists. Thursday night was another step on the ladder, as he tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s franchise record for all-star selections with his sixth. Abdul-Jabbar went to six straight All-Star Games from 1969-75.

Antetokounmpo has now surpassed Hall of Famer Sidney Moncrief in all-star selections by a Bucks player. Moncrief went to five straight from 1982-86.

Antetokounmpo was once again voted in as a starter by the fans (50%), a media panel (25%) and players (25%) after averaging 28.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 blocks through his first 40 games.

Reserves for the annual exhibition, which are voted on by the coaches, will be announced Feb. 3. There remains an outside chance the Bucks jump from their current spot at No. 5 in the East to the top spot, which would send Mike Budenholzer and his coaching staff to Cleveland.

Point guard Jrue Holiday and forward Khris Middleton are likely to be considered by the coaches as all-star reserves.

In the back court voting, Holiday finished sixth in the media vote, 13th in the fan voting and 14th in the player vote. Middleton finished 18th in front court voting. He received the 14th most fan votes but just two player votes.

Participants for the skills challenge, three-point contest and slam dunk competition will be announced Feb. 8. Bobby Portis is 17th in the league in three-point shooting at 41.1%. Middleton participated in the 2019 competition. Ray Allen won the contest in 2000 as a member of the Bucks.

Pat Connaughton was the last Bucks player to participate in the slam dunk contest (2020).

Antetokounmpo, the reigning All-Star Game most valuable player, will be part of the “draft” of all-stars by captains James and Brooklyn's Kevin Durant on Feb. 10. Antetokounmpo has been a captain twice (2019-20) and has been drafted twice by James (2018, 2021).

It has been reported that Durant, who sprained a medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Jan. 15, will skip the game. That would open up a front court spot in the East.

Wisconsin also will likely be represented in the re-formatted Rising Stars Challenge, as Oshkosh native and Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton appears to be a lock for the sophomore team. The Rising Stars game also will feature four G League Ignite players, and Milwaukee native Michael Foster Jr. is up for consideration.

All-star weekend is in Cleveland, with the Rising Stars Challenge scheduled for Feb. 18. The All-Star Game is scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. Feb. 20.

In the front court voting, Bobby Portis finished 31st. DeMarcus Cousins received one player vote and Thanasis Antetokounmpo was 35th in the fan vote. Brook Lopez, Jordan Nwora, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Semi Ojeleye and Javin DeLaurier also received fan votes.

In the back court voting, Grayson Allen was 18th in the fan vote and ranked 24th by the players. Donte DiVincenzo and Rodney Hood each received one player vote while Pat Connaughton was 39th in the fan voting. George Hill, Wesley Matthews and Javonte Smart also received fan votes.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo ties Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for all-star selections