NBA NEWS - All-Star Starters

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James - NBA photo

Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks replaces Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant - NBA photo

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic - NBA photo

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan - NBA photo

CLEVELAND’S JAMES IS TOP VOTE-GETTER IN 2010 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING - Becomes First Player to Top 2.5 Million Votes Three Times - L.A. Lakers’ Bryant Leading Vote-Getter in West - Surprisingly voted in was Allen Iverson the 2001 and 2005 All-Star Game MVP

NEW YORK, N.Y. USA

Sunday February 14, 2010

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, this year’s leading vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program with 2,549,693 votes, became the first player in balloting history to draw at least 2.5 million votes on three separate occasions. James is making his sixth All-Star appearance and will start for the Eastern Conference for the sixth time in his career. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, the second leading vote-getter overall with 2,456,224, paced the Western Conference.

Through the 2010 NBA All-Star Balloting program fans worldwide were responsible for voting in the starters for the 59th 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 game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 – the largest group ever to witness a live basketball game – on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.

Joining James, the 2006 and 2008 All-Star Game MVP, in the Eastern Conference starting lineup at forward is Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics (1,978,116), the 2003 All-Star MVP. The starters for the East at guard are the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (2,327,550) and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson (1,269,568), the 2001 and 2005 All-Star Game MVP. Among active players, Garnett’s 13th All-Star selection ranks second to Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal (15). Dwight Howard (2,360,096) of the Orlando Magic is the starting center.

Bryant, the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998, is making his 12th appearance and was the All-Star MVP in 2002 and 2007, and co-MVP along with Shaquille O’Neal in 2009. Bryant is joined in the Western Conference starting backcourt by the Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash (1,222,235). The Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony (2,137,560) and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (1,156,696), who is making his 12th appearance and was the co-MVP along with Shaquille O’Neal of the 2000 All-Star Game, are the starting forwards. The Suns’ Amar’e Stoudemire starts at center (1,824,093).

In selecting the reserves, the 30 NBA head coaches voted for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their team. After the coaches selected the reserves, if a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, NBA Commissioner David Stern will select a replacement.

Dirk Nowitzki of the hometown Dallas Mavericks was named an NBA All-Star for the ninth time, as the NBA announced a list of 14 players -- including seven first-timers -- that have been selected by the coaches as reserves for the 2010 All-Star Game.

Joining Nowitzki on the West squad are the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol, the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul, the Portland Trail Blazers’ Brandon Roy, and three first-timers -- the Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams.

In the Eastern Conference, four first-time selections – the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford, the Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo, the Charlotte Bobcats’ Gerald Wallace and the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose – are joined by the Hawks’ Joe Johnson, the Celtics’ Paul Pierce and the Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh. Rose also was selected to play in the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, which will be held in Dallas at American Airlines Center on Friday, Feb. 12.

Injuries have factored into several changes in the game. The injured Roy was replaced by the Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman. Also Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks replaces injured Kobe Bryant and the New York Knicks forward David Lee replaces the injured Philadelphia 76er Alan Iverson. The Denver Nuggets Chauncey Billups replaces Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. The Nuggets George Karl will coach the West.

The East and West All-Star coaches and coaching staffs is determined by the best record in each conference through games played Jan. 31. Last year’s East and West coaches – Cleveland’s Mike Brown and the L.A. Lakers’ Phil Jackson -- are not eligible to coach this year’s All-Star Game.

NBA All-Star 2010 in Dallas 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 59th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals, including NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and the Challenge & Youth Jam. This will be the second NBA All-Star in Dallas. The city also hosted the event in 1986.

2010 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 2,549,693; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,978,116; Chris Bosh (Tor) 1,164,007; Paul Pierce (Bos) 525,677; Josh Smith (Atl) 475,671; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 313,827; Danny Granger (Ind) 309,808; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 302,743; Michael Beasley (Mia) 277,400; Hedo Turkoglu (Tor) 213,369.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 2,327,550; Allen Iverson (Phi) 1,269,568; Vince Carter (Orl) 1,048,977; Ray Allen (Bos) 710,045; Derrick Rose (Chi) 571,911; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 545,860; Joe Johnson (Atl) 496,255; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 425,590; Jose Calderon (Tor) 292,909; Mike Bibby (Atl) 223,759.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 2,360,096; Shaquille O'Neal (Cle) 856,056; Al Horford (Atl) 270,532; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 265,024; Brook Lopez (NJ) 223,246; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 202,072; Jermaine O'Neal (Mia) 159,327; Rasheed Wallace (Bos) 131,084; Brad Miller (Chi) 102,994; Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 90,278.

2010 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 2,137,560; Tim Duncan (SA) 1,156,696; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 1,093,005; Pau Gasol (LAL) 1,051,784; Kevin Durant (OKC) 870,567; Trevor Ariza (Hou) 645,937; Luis Scola (Hou) 580,243; Ron Artest (LAL) 368,281; Shawn Marion (Dal) 363,516; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 309,497.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 2,456,224; Steve Nash (Pho) 1,222,235; Chris Paul (NO) 1,055,789; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,022,492; Aaron Brooks (Hou) 591,930; Jason Kidd (Dal) 523,708; Manu Ginobili (SA) 465,211; Chauncey Billups (Den) 452,983; Tony Parker (SA) 439,536; Brandon Roy (Por) 422,290.

Centers: Amar’e Stoudemire (Pho) 1,824,093; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 981,355; Nene (Den) 364,543; Marc Gasol (Mem) 353,155; Antonio McDyess (SA) 328,717; Al Jefferson (Min) 252,777; Greg Oden (Por) 225,245; Marcus Camby (LAC) 188,240; Emeka Okafor (NO) 182,626; Andris Biedrins (GS) 167,481.

ALL STAR GAME STARTERS

2010 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING TOP 10 OVERALL LEADING VOTE-GETTERS

Player -- Votes

1. LeBron James, Cle 2,549,693

2. Kobe Bryant, LAL 2,456,224

3. Dwight Howard, Orl 2,360,096

4. Dwyane Wade, Mia 2,327,550

5. Carmelo Anthony, Den 2,137,560

6. Kevin Garnett, Bos 1,978,116

7. Amar’e Stoudemire, Pho 1,824,093

8. Allen Iverson, Phi 1,269,568

9. Steve Nash, Pho 1,222,235

10. Chris Bosh, Tor 1,164,007

TOP 10 ALL-TIME SINGLE SEASON LEADING NBA ALL-STAR VOTE-GETTERS

Player -- Year -- Votes

1. Dwight Howard, Orl -- 2009 -- 3,150,181

2. LeBron James, Cle -- 2009 -- 2,940,823

3. Kobe Bryant, LAL -- 2009 -- 2,805,397

4. Dwyane Wade, Mia -- 2009 -- 2,741,413

5. Tim Duncan, SA -- 2009 -- 2,578,168

6. Yao Ming, Hou -- 2005 -- 2,558,278

7. LeBron James, Cle -- 2010 -- 2,549,693

8. Yao Ming, Hou -- 2009 -- 2,532,958

9. LeBron James, Cle -- 2007 -- 2,516,049

10. Kobe Bryant, LAL -- 2010 -- 2,456,224