USA - Want-away Iverson tops guards for All-Star Game

NEW YORK (NBA) - Allen Iverson may not know where or when he'll next play an NBA game, but he can expect to be at the All-Star Game in Las Vegas next February.

The free-scoring guard, who has not played since demanding a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers last week, is top of the voting charts at his position in his conference after the first returns were released by the league on Thursday.

Iverson, who leads the NBA in scoring at 31.2 points per game, has missed Philadelphia's last four games. The seven-time All-Star has been inactive since 76ers chairman Ed Snider said on Friday the team would grant his request for a trade.

With undeniable fan appeal, Iverson has collected 595,200 votes, slightly more than NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat (586,279). Vince Carter of New Jersey and Gilbert Arenas are third and fourth, respectively.

Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, only one player - Carter, in 2005 - was traded before the All-Star Game and still was voted as a starter.

Team USA forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers leads all Eastern Conference players with 808,570 votes. His international team-mate, the Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh is a distant second with 304,624, but ahead of Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal (258,139) and Boston's Paul Pierce (187,138).

Miami center Shaquille O'Neal, out since November 12 with an injury, has received 522,815 votes. Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is second with 415,708.

China's Houston Rockets center Yao Ming leads the balloting with 836,392 votes and has a huge advantage over Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns (281,051).

Second among West players is Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant with 720,375 votes. He is followed by Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets
(668,130) and Steve Nash of Phoenix (432,083).

There is a close race at forward in the West, where Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves (453,536), Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs
(423,228) and Germany international Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks
(405,613) are separated by less than 50,000 votes.

Balloting is conducted in arenas, on the league's web site and in several locations in Las Vegas, among other places. It continues through January 15 for paper balloting and January 21 for online balloting.

The starters will be announced January 25 and reserves - selected by coaches in each conference - will be revealed on February 1.

This season's game is February 18 in Las Vegas.

PA Sport