NEW YORK -- Los
Angeles Lakers guard Kobe
Bryant, a three-time All-Star MVP, is this year's leading
vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program presented by T-Mobile
with 2,380,016 votes. It is Bryant's 13th consecutive All-Star
selection; only Jerry West, Karl Malone and Shaquille
O'Neal, with 14 straight nods each, have more. Orlando
Magic center Dwight
Howard, the second leading vote-getter overall with
2,099,204, paced the Eastern Conference.
Bryant, the
youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998, and the All-Star MVP in 2002
and 2007, and co-MVP along with Shaquille O'Neal in 2009, is joined in
the Western Conference starting backcourt by the New
Orleans Hornets' Chris
Paul (1,281,591). The Oklahoma
City Thunder'sKevin
Durant (1,736,728), making his first All-Star Game start, and
the Denver
Nuggets'Carmelo
Anthony (1,299,849) are the starting forwards. The Houston
Rockets'Yao
Ming gets the nod at center (1,146,426). NBA Commissioner
David Stern will select a replacement for Yao, who is injured with a
stress fracture in his left ankle.
Joining Howard in
the Eastern Conference starting lineup at forward are the Miami
Heat'sLeBron
James (2,053,011), the 2006 and 2008 All-Star Game MVP, and
the New
York Knicks'Amar'e
Stoudemire (1,674,995). The starters for the East at guard
are the Heat's Dwyane
Wade (2,048,175), last year's All-Star Game MVP, and the
Chicago
Bulls'Derrick
Rose (1,914,996), who earns his first All-Star Game start.
James and Wade are the first set of teammates to start an All-Star Game
for the Eastern Conference since Wade and Shaquille O'Neal represented
the Heat in 2007 in Las Vegas.
2011 NBA All-Star
Balloting presented by T-Mobile, with associate partner 2K Sports,
allowed fans around the world to vote daily for their favorite players
as starters for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT
and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries
and territories in more than 40 languages. The 60th All-Star Game will
be played at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 20.
In selecting the reserves, the 30 NBA head coaches
must vote for seven players within their conference, including two
guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position.
Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their team. After the
coaches select the reserves, if a player is unable to participate in the
All-Star Game, Commissioner Stern will select a replacement. Reserves
will be announced Feb. 3, on TNT.
San
Antonio's Gregg Popovich earned the right to coach the West
following the Spurs' 113-102 win over the Golden
State Warriors Monday, which guaranteed them the best record
in the conference through Feb. 6. The East All-Star coach and coaching
staff will be determined by the best record in the conference through
games played Feb. 6.
NBA All-Star 2011 will bring
together some of the most talented and passionate players in the
league's history for a global celebration of the game. The week leading
up to the All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing
activities, fan festivals and events, including the NBA Cares All-Star
Day of Service, the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, and
NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm. NBA All-Star Jam
Session presented by adidas, the hugely successful interactive
basketball celebration, will return to the Los Angeles Convention
Center. Los Angeles and the STAPLES Center will host NBA All-Star 2011,
marking the fifth time The City of Angels and the second time STAPLES
Center will be the site of the annual celebration. STAPLES Center last
played host to NBA All-Star in 2004, and L.A. also hosted the All-Star
Game in 1963, 1972, and 1983.
The final returns of
both the Eastern and Western Conference for the 2011 NBA All-Star
Balloting program presented by T-Mobile are attached:
Eastern Conference
F --
Amar'e Stoudemire, New York
F --
LeBron James, Miami
C --
Dwight Howard, Orlando
G --
Derrick Rose, Chicago
G --
Dwyane Wade, Miami
Head coach:
TBD
Western Conference
F --
Carmelo Anthony, Denver
F --
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
C --
Yao Ming, Houston*
G --
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G --
Chris Paul, New Orleans
Head
coach: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio
* Signifies injured player
2011 NBA ALL-STAR
BALLOTING
EASTERN
CONFERENCE
Forwards:
LeBron James (Mia) 2,053,011; Amar'e Stoudemire (NYK) 1,674,995; Kevin
Garnett (Bos) 1,407,601; Paul Pierce (Bos) 804,838; Chris Bosh (Mia)
571,734; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 504,610; Danilo Gallinari (NYK) 390,658;
Josh Smith (Atl) 387,843; Luol Deng (Chi) 291,118; Danny Granger (Ind)
279,522.
Guards: Dwyane
Wade (Mia) 2,048,175; Derrick Rose (Chi) 1,914,996; Rajon Rondo (Bos)
1,587,297; Ray Allen (Bos) 890,951; Raymond Felton (NYK) 397,301; John
Wall (Was) 337,368; Gilbert Arenas (Orl) 312,903; Brandon Jennings (Mil)
301,225; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 246,130, Joe Johnson (Atl)
224,571.
Centers:
Dwight Howard (Orl) 2,099,204; Shaquille O'Neal (Bos) 906,284; Joakim
Noah (Chi) 432,127; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 301,896; Al Horford (Atl)
287,083; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 250,614; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 215,123; Brook
Lopez (NJ) 166,844; JaVale McGee (Was) 146,474; Ben Wallace (Det)
113,443.
WESTERN
CONFERENCE
Forwards:
Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,736,728; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,299,849; Pau
Gasol (LAL) 1,100,772; Blake Griffin (LAC) 1,033,646; Tim Duncan (SA)
839,599; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 785,120; Lamar Odom (LAL) 529,854; Kevin
Love (Min) 492,173; Luis Scola (Hou) 411,576; Rudy Gay (Mem) 284,021.
Guards: Kobe Bryant
(LAL) 2,380,016; Chris Paul (NOH) 1,281,591; Manu Ginobili (SA) 748,840;
Steve Nash (Pho) 718,934; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 660,244; Deron
Williams (Utah) 657,806; Tony Parker (SA) 436,958; Jason Kidd (Dal)
394,793; Monta Ellis (GSW) 390,237; Vince Carter (Pho) 353,143.
Centers: Yao Ming (Hou)
1,146,426; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 974,546; Nene (Den) 599,048; Marc Gasol
(Mem) 524,932; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 435,218; Brendan Haywood (Dal)
352,811; Marcus Camby (Por) 279,026; Chris Kaman (LAC) 196,268; Andris
Biedrins (GSW) 175,547; DeMarcus Cousins (Sac)
152,976
