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LeBron James Top Vote Getter in NBA All-Star Voting
LeBron James finished as the top vote getter for this year’s NBA All-Star game in Las Vegas. The Cleveland Cavaliers forward received more than 2.5 million votes to earn a starting spot on the Eastern Conference squad.
While James cruised into a starting spot, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards joined the top five by the narrowest of margins. Arenas got a late surge of fan support to edge New Jersey Nets star Vince Carter by just 3,010 votes. Arenas will be joined by Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat to round out the backcourt.
Wade’s teammate, Shaquille O’Neal, got the fan’s nod to start in the Feb 18 game as well. It will be O’Neal’s 14th straight All-Star Game, a feat accomplished by only two other players- Karl Malone and Jerry West.
Chris Bosh, the fourth-year forward for the Toronto Raptors, rounds out the starting five for the Eastern Conference.
Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets received the most votes in the Western Conference with over 2.4 million fans checking his name on the ballot. While earning the starting center position, Ming will not participate in the game due to an injury.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be represented by all-everything forward Kevin Garnett who earned a starting spot at tip-off. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs was voted to play alongside Garnett in the other forward position.
The Western Conference will feature the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant and Ming’s partner in Houston Tracy McGrady in the backcourt.
With Ming injured, NBA Commissioner David Stern will select a replacement. That will be announced after the All-Star reserves are selected
The game in Las Vegas will be the first time the NBA has staged an All-Star Game outside an NBA city.
