NBA – Bryant tops 2011 All-Star voting

LOS ANGELES (NBA) – Team USA guard Kobe Bryant is the leading vote-getter in the 2011 NBA All-Star Game balloting with more than 2.3 million votes.

Bryant earned his 13th consecutive selection for the mid-season classic and will be joined in the West’s starting five by fellow 2008 Olympics gold medalists Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony as well as by 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP Kevin Durant.

China superstar Yao Ming was voted as the starting centre for the Western Conference, but is to miss out because of a stress fracture in his left ankle. A replacement will be named by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Dwight Howard – the starting centre on the USA’s gold medal winning team in Beijing – finished second in the voting and headlines the East team. He is joined by Team USA stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Derrick Rose, who played a key role alongside Durant on the victorious US national team in Turkey last summer, starts in the backcourt alongside Wade. Amar’e Stoudemire completes the East’s starting line-up.

The 60th NBA All-Star Game will take place on 20th February at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The reserves for both teams will be named on 3rd February.

2011 NBA All-Star Game starting fives

Eastern Conference
Guard – Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Guard – Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
Forward – LeBron James (Miami Heat)
Forward – Amar’e Stoudemire (New York Knicks)
Centre – Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)

Western Conference
Guard – Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)
Guard – Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
Forward – Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
Forward – Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Centre – Yao Ming* (Houston Rockets)

* ruled out through injury; replacement to be named

FIBA