Kobe leads first All-Star Returns

[johnhensonfan]

Kobe leads first All=Star return

NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant is the leading vote-getter in the first returns of NBA All-Star Voting 2016 presented by Verizon. Bryant, a 17-time All-Star, received 719,235 votes to claim the top spot, ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (510,202) and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, who leads the Eastern Conference with 357,937 votes.

James, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (283,785) and the Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond (148,278) pace the East’s frontcourt players. The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (300,595) is the leading vote-getter among East guards, followed by the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (138,191).

Curry, who leads the NBA in scoring (31.2 ppg) for the 27-1 Warriors, is followed in the Western Conference guard voting by 2015 NBA All-Star Game MVP Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (267,699). Bryant, the Thunder’s Kevin Durant (349,473) and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (182,107) lead all West frontcourt players.

Bryant is the leading scorer in NBA All-Star Game history (280 points), and his 17 All-Star selections are second all time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 19. A 20-year NBA veteran, Bryant announced last month that this will be his final season.

The 65th NBA All-Star Game will tip off Sunday, Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the first All-Star Game to be held outside of the U.S. The game will be seen by fans in more than 200 countries and territories and will be heard in more than 40 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game in the U.S. for the 14th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 31st year of NBA All-Star coverage.

NBA ALL-STAR 2016 VOTING PRESENTED BY VERIZON

Western Conference

Frontcourt

Kobe Bryant (LAL) 719,235
Kevin Durant (OKC) 349,473
Blake Griffin (LAC) 182,107
Kawhi Leonard (SA) 164,521
Draymond Green (GS) 160,350
Anthony Davis (NO) 156,161
Tim Duncan (SA) 127,543
DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 101,930
Dwight Howard (Hou) 66,598
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) 65,019
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 56,377
DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 49,696
Enes Kanter (OKC) 47,806
Harrison Barnes (GS) 43,343
Kevin Garnett (Min) 42,285

Guards

Stephen Curry (GS) 510,202
Russell Westbrook (OKC) 267,699
Chris Paul (LAC) 146,335
Klay Thompson (GS) 138,587
James Harden (Hou) 135,531
Rajon Rondo (Sac) 66,164
Andre Iguodala (GS) 62,407
Damian Lillard (Por) 47,615
Manu Ginobili (SA) 42,413
Tony Parker (SA) 40,693

Eastern Conference

Frontcourt

LeBron James (Cle) 357,937
Paul George (Ind) 283,785
Andre Drummond (Det) 148,278
Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 132,119
Pau Gasol (Chi) 109,585
Kevin Love (Cle) 92,177
Chris Bosh (Mia) 91,896
Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) 85,606
Hassan Whiteside (Mia) 72,923
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) 25,926
Jonas Valanciunas (Tor) 12,341
Joakim Noah (Chi) 10,808
Paul Millsap (Atl) 10,501
Marcin Gortat (Was) 9,443
DeMarre Carroll (Tor) 8,885

Guards

Dwyane Wade (Mia) 300,595
Kyrie Irving (Cle) 138,191
Kyle Lowry (Tor) 128,131
Jimmy Butler (Chi) 111,220
John Wall (Was) 103,094
Derrick Rose (Chi) 72,709
DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 69,042
Jeremy Lin (Cha) 61,832
Isaiah Thomas (Bos) 45,014
Nicolas Batum (Cha) 20,596

[johnhensonfan]

In my opinion Kobe on leads as a sympathy vote for retiring. This year he has not put up all-star numbers especially to be ahead of Curry.

What are your thoughts?

[WilyWestbrook0]

Definitely a sympathy thing. Fans want to see him one last time because they know it's his final year. Certainly not getting these votes on merit.

[jordan23]

Sympathy, they will be gunning for him for all-star game MVP if voted in.

[johnhensonfan]

If for some reason he is not voted in do you think a coach will still pick him? I know deserving players always miss out but it would be a shame to miss out because of this. I guess its not the first time and probably wont be last.

[jmintz]

He will get voted in for sure. If I'm not mistaken Yao Ming got voted an all-star starter one year and he was hurt the entire season. NBA All Star game voting is a popularity contest, and little more.

[pwaldo]

In my opinion Kobe on leads as a sympathy vote for retiring. This year he has not put up all-star numbers especially to be ahead of Curry.

What are your thoughts?

I've seen Yao Ming get voted in when he was basically done for the whole year. And I could have sworn Tmac and Iverson were basic locks for most of their careers even if they were hurt or totally sucked because they were so popular so it probalby isn't too surprising that Kobe would get a sympathy vote especially since he's on the Lakers and LA has a lot of fans. Plus he's very popular worldwide and evident by the Yao Ming voting the rest of the world votes a lot more than the US votes.