Bryant holds lead over James in third All-Star returns
NEW YORK — Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers continues leading the field with 1,177,456 votes, following the third returns of the 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint. The Miami Heat’s LeBron James, with 1,151,304 votes, is a close second. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (1,088,797) and the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (1,054,099) are second in West and East, respectively.
Balloting will conclude on Jan. 14, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 17, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Clippers at the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET) and the Miami Heat at the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).
James, Anthony and the Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (390,751) are the leading vote-getters among the Eastern Conference’s frontcourt players. The Heat’s Dwyane Wade is pacing Eastern Conference backcourt players with 765,077 votes, followed by the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo (675,822).
Bryant’s intra-city rival, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, is the second-leading vote-getter among Western Conference backcourt players with 651,893 votes. Joining Durant in the frontcourt following the third returns are the Lakers’ Dwight Howard (716,671) and the Clippers’ Blake Griffin (593,024).
2013 All-Star Ballot | Third Returns
2013 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING – EASTERN CONFERENCE
Frontcourt: LeBron James (Mia) 1,151,304, Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 1,054,099, Kevin Garnett (Bos) 390,751, Chris Bosh (Mia) 362,973, Tyson Chandler (NYK) 315,752, Paul Pierce (Bos) 205,096, Joakim Noah (Chi) 158,743, Josh Smith (Atl) 131,508, Anderson Varejao (Cle) 116,166, Shane Battier (Mia) 107,190, Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 104,109, Andrew Bynum (Phi) 93,611, Luol Deng (Chi) 90,736, Brook Lopez (BKN) 76,695, Jeff Green (Bos) 62,367
Backcourt: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 765,077, Rajon Rondo (Bos) 675,822, Deron Williams (BKN) 350,618, Kyrie Irving (Cle) 308,878, Ray Allen (Mia) 232,441, Monta Ellis (Mil) 84,609, Raymond Felton (NYK) 77,123, Jrue Holiday (Phi) 66,514, Jason Terry (Bos) 62,189, Brandon Jennings (Mil) 56,826
2013 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING – WESTERN CONFERENCE
Frontcourt: Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,088,797, Dwight Howard (LAL) 716,671, Blake Griffin (LAC) 593,024, Tim Duncan (SA) 352,534, Pau Gasol (LAL) 239,440, Kevin Love (Min) 221,291, Omer Asik (Hou) 160,935, Rudy Gay (Mem) 140,864, Serge Ibaka (OKC) 134,172, Marc Gasol (Mem) 114,465, LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 111,156, Zach Randolph (Mem) 111,046, Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 106,623, Metta World Peace (LAL) 106,025, Chandler Parsons (Hou) 93,057
Backcourt: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,177,456, Chris Paul (LAC) 651,893, Jeremy Lin (Hou) 605,624, James Harden (Hou) 337,585, Russell Westbrook (OKC) 268,558, Steve Nash (LAL) 202,274, Tony Parker (SA) 128,966, Ricky Rubio (Min) 112,352, Stephen Curry (GS) 97,761, Manu Ginobili (SA) 84,564