Filed under: Celtics, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, Rockets, Spurs, NBA All-Star Game, Thunder
Kobe Bryant remains the leading vote-getter for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game with 1,153,694 votes, the league announced Thursday. Dwight Howard (988,572) leads all players in the Eastern Conference, while Miami's LeBron James (969,459) and Dwyane Wade (938,402) place third and fourth in the league.
Bryant, a three-time All-Star MVP (2002, 2007 and 2009), has been voted a starter in each of the last 12 All-Star games, although he missed last season's contest in Dallas due to injury. This season's game will be played Feb. 20 in Los Angeles on Bryant's home court at STAPLES Center. Paper balloting for the All-Star game will continue through Jan. 17, while electronic ballots can be cast through Jan. 23. The starters will be announced on Jan. 27, and the reserves will be announced on Feb. 3.
The latest returns also suggest a passing of the torch in Boston, as Rajon Rondo (777,310) so far has been named on more ballots than any of the Celtics' Big Three of Kevin Garnett (712,555), Paul Pierce (381,348) or Ray Allen (392,441). Rondo and Garnett are second among the East's guards and forwards, respectively, putting them on pace to earn a stating job -- provided they're healthy. Rondo, who's recently missed time with a sprained ankle, is expected to return Friday, but Garnett, who left Wednesday's game with a leg injury, is sidelined indefinitely.
In the West, Kevin Durant (735,521) and Carmelo Anthony (602,516) are the current leaders among forwards, although Pau Gasol (597,201) doesn't have much ground to make up to earn a starting job. Chris Paul (585,690) is second among the West's guards, possessing a healthy lead over Manu Ginobili (403,632).
Yao Ming (376,283), who's already been ruled out for the remainder of the season, is the runaway leader among the West's centers, with Andrew Bynum (376,283) a distant second. If Yao finishes as the top vote-getter at center, NBA commissioner David Stern will name a replacement for his spot on the roster, and the West's coach, currently slated to be Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, will choose a starter.
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