Bryant, Howard lead NBA All-Star Game third returns balloting
By DPA, IANSThursday, January 6, 2011
LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard continue to receive many happy returns after the results of the third fan balloting for the 2011 All-Star Game were announced Thursday.
The NBA’s annual mid-season showpiece will be played at Los Angeles’ Staples Center Sunday, Feb 20.
Bryant of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers is the overall leader, garnering 1,391,597 votes. Meanwhile, Howard, the muscular centre of the Orlando Magic is second with 1,205.159.
In the Western Conference, Bryant, a three-time All-Star Most Valuable Player, is joined at the guard spot by New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (724,605 votes). Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder (945,944) and Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony (742,284) lead the forwards.
Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets is tops among Western Conference centres (754,583 votes), even though the 7-foot-6 Chinese star is sidelined with a season-ending foot injury.
Howard, the leading vote-getter in the Eastern Conference, is flanked at forward by Miami Heat’s LeBron James, a two-time All-Star MVP (1,194,091 votes) and Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (850,687).
The Heat’s Dwyane Wade, last year’s All-Star Game MVP, paces the guards (1,167,649 votes) while Celtics’ Rajon Rondo is second (929,781).
Fan balloting consisting of 120 players, 60 from each conference, will continue through Jan 23 with the announcement of the starters Jan 27. Head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Feb 3.
