First Round of All Star Balloting Results

[Kori Ellis]

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2006 – Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference, while LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers lead the Eastern Conference in votes received after the first returns of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile.

Through the 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program, NBA fans from around the globe are responsible for voting in the starters for the 56th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 18. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Yao leads all players with 836,392 votes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 453,536 votes, followed by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (423,228). Bryant (720,375) and the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (668,130) lead all Western Conference guards.

James leads all Eastern Conference players with 808,570 votes, followed by Iverson (595,200). The Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh (304,624) is second to James among Eastern Conference forwards. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference centers with 522,815 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (415,708).

Fans have the opportunity to vote at all NBA arenas, in 20 languages on NBA.com, on AOL.com/nba, at 1,250 T-Mobile-owned retail locations and at t-zones using T-Mobile service or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. Fans will be able to vote at several locations in Las Vegas, the host city of NBA All-Star 2007, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fremont Street and the Thomas & Mack Center. For the first time, 13 NBA team arenas will also carry a Spanish-language version of the ballot. T-Mobile is the presenting partner of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program. This year’s other All-Star Balloting partners include 2K Sports, AOL.com, XBOX, GameStop & EB Games.

NBA All-Star 2007 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session.

A total of 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western Conferences – are listed on the NBA All-Star ballot, with 24 guards, 24 forwards and 12 centers from each conference comprising the ballot. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media experts who regularly cover the NBA. This year’s panel included Steve Aschburner (Minneapolis Star Tribune/ President, Professional Basketball Writers’ Association), Ric Bucher (ESPN the Magazine), Ernie Johnson (Turner Sports) and Sam Smith (Chicago Tribune).

The 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program continues through Jan. 15, 2007 for paper balloting and Jan. 21, 2007 for online balloting. Updated results for the Eastern and Western Conferences will be issued regularly leading up to the announcement of the All-Star starters on Thursday Jan. 25 prior to a TNT doubleheader. Following the completion of fan voting and the starting line-up announcement, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Thursday, Feb. 1 prior to a TNT doubleheader.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the chance to live out their Las Vegas hoop dreams by entering the Official Balloting NBA 2K7 All-Star Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2007 and play 2K Sports NBA 2K7 on XBOX 360 against an NBA player. In addition, T-Mobile will promote their Fave 5 Sweepstakes by offering fans a chance to bring their favorite five friends to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the first returns of the 2007 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 808,570; Chris Bosh (Tor) 304,624; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 258,139, Paul Pierce (Bos) 187,138; Grant Hill (Orl) 168,695; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 144,228; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 136, 785; Emeka Okafor (Char) 98,502; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 93,514; Chris Webber (Phi) 88,066.

Guards: Allen Iverson (Phi) 595,200; Dwyane Wade (Mia) 586,679; Vince Carter (NJ) 433,363; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 225,923; Jason Kidd (NJ) 190,385; Chauncey Billups (Det) 109,687; Stephon Marbury (NY) 107,219; Michael Redd (Mil) 97,394; Joe Johnson (Atl) 78,680; Steve Francis (NY) 76,210.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 522,815; Dwight Howard (Orl) 415,708; Ben Wallace (Chi) 216,443; Alonzo Mourning (Mia) 65,255; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 46,178; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 39,921; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 38,590; Nenad Krstic (NJ) 33,459; Samuel Dalembert (Phi) 30,744; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 30,078.

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minn) 453,536; Tim Duncan (SA) 423,228; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 405,613; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 364,419; Shane Battier (Hou) 265,340; Lamar Odom (LAL) 155,289; Shawn Marion (Pho) 130,710; Josh Howard (Dal) 118,399; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 113,289; Pau Gasol (Mem) 100,192.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 720,375; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 668,130; Steve Nash (Pho) 432,083; Chris Paul (NOK) 156,801; Jason Terry (Dal) 126,648; Manu Ginobili (SA) 125,076; Tony Parker (SA) 118,417; Ray Allen (Sea) 111,841; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 104,308; Baron Davis (GS) 93,777.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 836,392; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 281,051; Erick Dampier (Dal) 118,557; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 102,760; Marcus Camby (Den) 64,082; Brad Miller (Sac) 33,376; Francisco Elson (SA) 33,161; Chris Kaman (LAC) 32,151; Chris Mihm (LAL) 31,883; Tyson Chandler (NOK) 25,504.

[boutons_]

Damn, FE done got some friends who think he's "pretty" good eough for the "beauty contest" !

Way to go FE!! :lol

[timvp]

I don't know what's funnier: Francisco Elson ahead of Chris Kaman or Chris Mihm (who didn't play a minute this year and is out for the season) ahead of Tyson Chandler and the rest of the centers.

:rollin

[Solid D]

Elson with 33K votes! :wow

Either a lot of Spurs fans are voting "straight ticket" or Holland NBA fans are stepping up bigtime!

[The Truth #6]

Some of the voting seems bizarre, at least to me. Shane Battier is 5th in the West for forwards, ahead of Marion and Boozer? Has Gasol even played a minute all year and yet he has 100k votes?

[PM5K]

Some of the voting seems bizarre, at least to me. Shane Battier is 5th in the West for forwards, ahead of Marion and Boozer? Has Gasol even played a minute all year and yet he has 100k votes?

Voting is based on popularity, not playing time.

[Kori Ellis]

Some of the voting seems bizarre, at least to me. Shane Battier is 5th in the West for forwards, ahead of Marion and Boozer? Has Gasol even played a minute all year and yet he has 100k votes?

Sometimes it's weird in the first round of balloting because a particular city has a big push of votes. Things usually even out by the end.

[ducks]

what happens if ai goes west?

[dimsah]

I hate all-star voting. I hope Tony gets in from the coaches voting because
if Jason fucking Terry is ahead of him now there is no way he gets voted in by the fans.

[Spurminator]

Battier is 5th in the West for forwards, ahead of Marion and Boozer?

China.

[ShoogarBear]

Either a lot of Spurs fans are voting "straight ticket" or Holland NBA fans are stepping up bigtime!Maybe alamo50 has finally stopped writing in David Robinson every year?

[PM5K]

Maybe alamo50 has finally stopped writing in David Robinson every year?

LOL

[Rynospursfan]

The only one I am surprised about is Bosh, not that he doesn't deserve it but I just didn't think he was that popular.

[Spurminator]

The only one I am surprised about is Bosh, not that he doesn't deserve it but I just didn't think he was that popular.


Canada.

[phyzik]

I don't know what's funnier: Francisco Elson ahead of Chris Kaman or Chris Mihm (who didn't play a minute this year and is out for the season) ahead of Tyson Chandler and the rest of the centers.

:rollin

Franco even on the ballot is funny.... going from "who the hell is Elson??" to "Damn, check out Elson!!!" :lol

[Spurminator]

half of canada doesn't vote...maybe even 3/4


THAT isnt the reason. has to be due to his game and expanding popularity


I was being somewhat facetious.... I've been voting for Bosh myself.

[George Gervin's Afro]

I don't know about any of you but I wouldn't mind Tim taking the break off instead of playing.

[703 Spurz]

I don't know about any of you but I wouldn't mind Tim taking the break off instead of playing.

I'm with you on this one. The AS Game is all about dunks and young guys like Melo and LBJ that are the popular types rather then fundamentals like Timmy.

Vote him in but don't play. Let the rest of the guys get hurt :toast

[RonMexico]

When Shaq has only played 4 games and is the leader in the East over Dwight Howard - I'm just giving up on this stupid popularity contest that is fan voting. I know the NBA wants to be "fan-friendly" but take it out of those idiots' hands.

[Texas_Ranger]

I expect to see Parker, Manu and TD on the All-Star.

[bdictjames]

Garnett, TD, and Yao could make a solid frontline, but what Im worried about is te chemistry.

[picnroll]

Some of the voting seems bizarre, at least to me. Shane Battier is 5th in the West for forwards, ahead of Marion and Boozer? Has Gasol even played a minute all year and yet he has 100k votes?
China

[ShoogarBear]

China.
Canada.
ChinaIt's the new Axis of Evil!

[ALVAREZ6]

Jason Terry...what a scrub. He's no all-star.

[ALVAREZ6]

I expect to see Parker, Manu and TD on the All-Star.
That would be great. I can only see one of our backcourt duo guys making it, but it would be awesome if they both did. You never know though. Things happen, like T-Mac and his back. Kobe and his ankle. People get injured. There is a chance. There's no way the coaches are gonna vote in Terry.

[dg7md]

Okur and Boozer deserve the all-star game treatment this year.

[alamo50]

Maybe alamo50 has finally stopped writing in David Robinson every year?

;)

[#1kingsfan]

what? no mike bibby?

[1Parker1]

Shaq over Howard in the East? Has Shaq even played a game this season?

Oh, and 3 of those Elson votes were mine, thank you very much :smokin

[ducks]

manu being at the allstar game would be great
however I think he should rest and stay home and not get hurt in a meanliness game

[Extra Stout]

Garnett, TD, and Yao could make a solid frontline, but what Im worried about is te chemistry.
Yes, chemistry is very important in All-Star games. So is defense.

[abelle23]

manu being at the allstar game would be great
however I think he should rest and stay home and not get hurt in a meanliness game


:rolleyes

[Duncanoypi]

what? no mike bibby?

who the hell is mike bibby? :blah

[ducks]

what happens if ai is not traded by then?
wear he goes and wear a sixer uniform?

[smeagol]

:rolleyes
Don't worry.

That's vintage ducks

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Jason Terry...what a scrub. He's no all-star.he does a damn good impression of a plane though. man, he's good at that.

[Kori Ellis]

Every year people blame the Chinese people for stuffing the online ballot boxes for Yao Ming via the internet. But in actuality for a few years Yao has been winning by the paper ballots at the arenas, not by the web ballots.

For example ..


In fact, for the 2004 All-Star Game, the year in which Yao won the starting spot by the smallest margin in his career, he actually received around 4,000 fewer online votes than his rival, Shaquille O'Neal. Yao managed to make up for this by outvoting O'Neal in paper balloting. These paper ballots were handed out in NBA arenas and shopping malls in the United States and Chinese fans were unable to vote on them. Thanks to paper balloting, Yao went on to finish ahead of O'Neal that year by a margin of 29,000 votes overall.

[ShoogarBear]

Imported paper ballots from Chinese sweatshops.

[polandprzem]

Who invented paper?

You've got the answer