All-Star Balloting - Next Round of Returns In

[Kori Ellis]

NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 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 Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat lead the Eastern Conference in votes received after the second 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 1,411,923 votes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 785,865 votes, followed by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (715,916). Bryant (1,187,505) and the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (1,057,057) lead all Western Conference guards. Moving into third place among Western Conference guards is Allen Iverson, who was acquired by the Denver Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 19. Since Iverson was traded to a Western Conference team after the All-Star ballot was unveiled, his Eastern Conference votes will be applied to the conference in which he now plays.

James leads all Eastern Conference players with 1,323,989 votes, followed by Wade (983,321). The Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh (497,283) is second to James among Eastern Conference forwards. The New Jersey Nets’ Vince Carter (726,040) is second to Wade among Eastern Conference guards. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference centers with 855,544 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (665,434).

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.

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 second returns of the 2007 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 1,323,989; Chris Bosh (Tor) 497,283; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 437,164; Paul Pierce (Bos) 322,601; Grant Hill (Orl) 281,966; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 251,155; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 219,621; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 166,250; Emeka Okafor (Char) 155,998; Chris Webber (Phi) 147,933.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 983,321; Vince Carter (NJ) 726,040; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 494,761; Jason Kidd (NJ) 361,504; Stephon Marbury (NY) 237,478; Chauncey Billups (Det) 198,290; Michael Redd (Mil) 151,216; Steve Francis (NY) 133,027; Joe Johnson (Atl) 129,755; Richard Hamilton (Det) 108,355.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 855,544; Dwight Howard (Orl) 665,434; Ben Wallace (Chi) 377,127; Alonzo Mourning (Mia) 122,525; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 99,467; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 79,150; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 68,475; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 57,830; Nenad Krstic (NJ) 54,472; Eddy Curry (NY) 52,677.

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minn) 785,865; Tim Duncan (SA) 715,916; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 684,620; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 633,041; Shane Battier (Hou) 471,404; Lamar Odom (LAL) 239,047; Shawn Marion (Pho) 230,155; Josh Howard (Dal) 225,499; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 185,155; Pau Gasol (Mem) 157,239.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,187,505; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,057,057; Allen Iverson (Den) 975,319*; Steve Nash (Pho) 736,168; Chris Paul (NOK) 244,773; Jason Terry (Dal) 236,856; Manu Ginobili (SA) 220,070; Tony Parker (SA) 208,113; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 199,328; Ray Allen (Sea) 182,946.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,411,923; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 485,642; Erick Dampier (Dal) 218,833; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 153,601; Marcus Camby (Den) 117,606; Chris Kaman (LAC) 61,202; Brad Miller (Sac) 59,859; Tyson Chandler (NOK) 56,874; Chris Mihm (LAL) 55,583; Francisco Elson (SA) 54,442.

* The Philadelphia – Denver trade involving Allen Iverson was completed after the media panel’s deadline for selecting the ballot and therefore Iverson is listed on the ballot as a member of his prior team. For tabulation purposes, Iverson’s votes will be counted towards the Western Conference totals.

[Kori Ellis]

I hope Iverson passes TMac and becomes a starter. Then the coaches won't pick TMac because he's been out so much and that will open up a spot for Manu/Tony to be selected.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

You know our centers suck if Mihm, who is out for the year, is getting more votes than Elson.

[1Parker1]

I'm sure AI will surpass TMac in voting for the Western Conference. Damn, Kobe+AI starting on the same team...:wow

[LEONARD]

Battier as the #5 forward?? :lol

What a joke...

[Das Texan]

stupid chinese voters.

[Kori Ellis]

stupid chinese voters.

Moreso Houston voters than voters in China. I know I've mentioned this before, but the majority of Yao's votes (and thus Battier's) come from paper ballots in the arenas, not from online ballots from China.

[Das Texan]

Moreso Houston voters than voters in China. I know I've mentioned this before, but the majority of Yao's votes (and thus Battier's) come from paper ballots in the arenas, not from online ballots from China.


even more reason to hate that franchise. I swear if McGrady starts there needs to be something done about this. Fans are stupid way too much when it comes to this.

[Supergirl]

I'm sure AI will surpass TMac in voting for the Western Conference. Damn, Kobe+AI starting on the same team...:wow

Yeah, the ball isn't big enough for the two of them.

INteresting logic, Kori. I hadn't thought about it that way. And I was thinking, huh, AI may not be an All Star this year. Cause if Kobe and Tracy get voted in, Nash is a surefire coach's pick, that leaves one spot for someone else. And I'd pick Manu, Tony, Ray Allen, or Chris Paul over AI, personally, even though I like AI. I think if you want the West to win, you don't want to try and play Kobe, Tracy and AI on the same team.

[Phenomanul]

It would be neat if the outcome of the game was meaningful.



Something like the MLB..... where the winning League has home field advantage in the World Series.


Just a thought...

[tlongII]

Zach Randolph better make it. Not even being in the top 10 forwards is a joke. He's having the best year of any power forward in the league.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Zach Randolph better make it. Not even being in the top 10 forwards is a joke. He's having the best year of any power forward in the league.

He isnt gonna make because he plays for the Blazers. Name the last Blazer to make the allstar game.

[tlongII]

He isnt gonna make because he plays for the Blazers. Name the last Blazer to make the allstar game.

So what? That's irrelevant.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

So what? That's irrelevant.

The Blazers aren't popular. When it comes down to it, it's all about the popularity.

[jman3000]

75 k votes is gonna be hard to make up for AI...i would think tmac would have to get injured again for him not to get it.


maybe you could sticky an all star link on the top of this page to remind people to vote.

[baseline bum]

Moreso Houston voters than voters in China. I know I've mentioned this before, but the majority of Yao's votes (and thus Battier's) come from paper ballots in the arenas, not from online ballots from China.

All the Chinese NBA fans I know in the US vote a straight Rockets ticket, and I know tons of Chinese NBA fans.

[ShoogarBear]

Harris County is like 75% Chinese anyway.

[ShoogarBear]

All the Chinese NBA fans I know in the US vote a straight Rockets ticket, and I know tons of Chinese NBA fans.Blaze you traitorous bastard.

[dave]

All the Chinese NBA fans I know in the US vote a straight Rockets ticket, and I know tons of Chinese NBA fans.

i'm a chinese NBA fan (not china chinese though), and i only voted 1 rocket (yao)

[tlongII]

i'm a chinese NBA fan (not china chinese though), and i only voted 1 rocket (yao)

How can you be chinese without being china chinese? Are you sweden chinese?

[dave]

my bad
i meant not mainland china chinese

[dbreiden83080]

So is this going to be yet another season where Timmy is voted in as a starter by the fans and morons will keep writing crap about NBA fans not liking him because he is boring.

[dave]

tim duncan is boring
but i still like him and he is definitely an allstar

[tlongII]

Yes, Duncan is boring. He should go back to wearing that tongue ring thingie.

[dbreiden83080]

tim duncan is boring
but i still like him and he is definitely an allstar

I never got why people say he is boring. Why is he boring because he just goes out and plays hard and wins without controversy and throwing teamates under the bus.

[dave]

hes boring in the sense that hes not "flashy"
but he doesn't need to be because his style works for him and hes one of the best forwards in the game

[ponky]

The Blazers aren't popular. When it comes down to it, it's all about the popularity.

I hate the whole All-Star voting process, it certainly is a stupid popularity contest with guys who haven't played much getting votes (Shaq, Mihm, Gasol). That said, the bench selections are sometimes given to not too popular ballers who they think are deserving like Rashard Lewis couple of years ago and some other guy I can't remember, maybe Jamaal Magloire?

[dave]

check out the NHL voting

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=285677&page=NewsPage&service=page

under defensemen, rory fitzpatrick - a write-in candidate is in 2nd place

the guy sucks, but due to an internet campaign, (voteforrory.com (http://www.voteforrory.com)

they've got him all the way up there

[dbreiden83080]

hes boring in the sense that hes not "flashy"
but he doesn't need to be because his style works for him and hes one of the best forwards in the game

Who is flashy though i don't get it. Garnett is not flashy to me, neither is Dirk of all the PF to me Tim's game is the best to watch.

[mavs>spurs2]

Who is flashy though i don't get it. Garnett is not flashy to me, neither is Dirk of all the PF to me Tim's game is the best to watch.

It's ok that you like him because he's a spur, but no one other than a spurs fan is going to find his game fun to watch. He's not athletic, not a dunker, and he doesn't hit 3's. That's what fans look for in exciting players.

[Timmy!]

screw Jason Terry......he's no all-star.

[dave]

Who is flashy though i don't get it. Garnett is not flashy to me, neither is Dirk of all the PF to me Tim's game is the best to watch.

i unno.... big dunks? anything that shows emotion...
dirk's sometimes pretty boring to watch as well

[Slinkyman]

what's the time table for shaq's return? i'd be pissed if he's the starter for the east after only playing 4 games to this point, hopefully Shaq does the right thing and lets Dwight Howard start.

[dav4463]

Fan voting is stupid. Tony Parker 8th ! Shaq starting !

[dbreiden83080]

It's ok that you like him because he's a spur, but no one other than a spurs fan is going to find his game fun to watch. He's not athletic, not a dunker, and he doesn't hit 3's. That's what fans look for in exciting players.

So in other words all the shit that looks good but doesn't win games or titles.

[ALVAREZ6]

Who is flashy though i don't get it. Garnett is not flashy to me, neither is Dirk of all the PF to me Tim's game is the best to watch.
I'd say you've got it about backwards on this one...

[dbreiden83080]

I'd say you've got it about backwards on this one...

Really based on what, you find KG shooting fadeaway jumpers all day exciting because i sure as shit don't.

[THE SIXTH MAN]

Really based on what, you find KG shooting fadeaway jumpers all day exciting because i sure as shit don't.
I'm not really in to how players play, because I could care less on how they make the shot. Just as long as the shots go in, and the team keeps on winning. In my opinion that's more exiting then a player making flashy moves in a losing effort.