All-Star Balloting Third Returns Announced

[Kori Ellis]

NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2007 – 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 third 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 1,629,832 votes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 947,040 votes, followed by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (852,827). Bryant (1,386,477) and the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (1,205,510) lead all Western Conference guards. Currently in third place among Western Conference guards is Allen Iverson (1,157,031), 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 1,587,738 votes, followed by Wade (1,191,403). The Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh (589,829) is second to James among Eastern Conference forwards. The New Jersey Nets’ Vince Carter (867,437) is second to Wade among Eastern Conference guards. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference centers with 1,013,747 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (789,950).

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.

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 1,587,738; Chris Bosh (Tor) 589,829; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 531,531; Paul Pierce (Bos) 382,287; Grant Hill (Orl) 331,931; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 299,296; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 260,993; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 200,065; Emeka Okafor (Char) 186,445; Chris Webber (Phi) 173,572.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,191,403; Vince Carter (NJ) 867,437; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 647,281; Jason Kidd (NJ) 490,622; Stephon Marbury (NY) 347,994; Chauncey Billups (Det) 244,236; Michael Redd (Mil) 192,280; Joe Johnson (Atl) 160,280; Steve Francis (NY) 155,676; Richard Hamilton (Det) 136,946.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 1,013,747; Dwight Howard (Orl) 789,950; Ben Wallace (Chi) 451,575; Alonzo Mourning (Mia) 155,605; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 130,301; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 108,321; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 88,979; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 73,139; Eddy Curry (NY) 68,445; Nenad Krstic (NJ) 62,550.

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minn) 947,040; Tim Duncan (SA) 852,827; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 794,581; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 769,491; Shane Battier (Hou) 539,714; Shawn Marion (Pho) 283,766; Lamar Odom (LAL) 275,327; Josh Howard (Dal) 256,409; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 217,872; Pau Gasol (Mem) 198,075.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,386,477; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,205,510; Allen Iverson (Den) 1,157,031*; Steve Nash (Pho) 869,645; Chris Paul (NOK) 276,477; Jason Terry (Dal) 267,698; Manu Ginobili (SA) 256,362; Tony Parker (SA) 242,929; Ray Allen (Sea) 221,003; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 220,385.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,629,832; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 610,444; Erick Dampier (Dal) 246,918; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 189,778; Marcus Camby (Den) 154,712; Brad Miller (Sac) 81,424; Francisco Elson (SA) 71,114; Tyson Chandler (NOK) 69,851; Chris Mihm (LAL) 69,840; Chris Kaman (LAC) 67,430.

* 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.

[regio]

I know Shaq was the most dominant player a couple of years ago but I think Dwight Howard deserves to start

[ALVAREZ6]

Shaq's an old piece and hasn't even played, yet will probably start.

[Bob Lanier]

Steve Francis (NY) 155,676; Richard Hamilton (Det) 136,946.

Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 130,301; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 108,321; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 88,979; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 73,139; Eddy Curry (NY) 68,445; Nenad Krstic (NJ) 62,550. :pctoss

[2centsworth]

all-star balloting is a joke. If they put Charles Barkley on the ballot he would make it.

[regio]

It's funny how

Shane Battier has more votes than Shawn Marion, Lamar Odom, Josh Howard, and Carlos Boozer

Stackhouse is so close to Tony Parker and Ray Allen

Erick Dampier has more votes than Mehmet Okur and Marcus Camby

And Francisco Elson has more votes than Tyson Chandler.

[regio]

all-star balloting is a joke. If they put Charles Barkley on the ballot he would make it.
:lol :lol :lol

[dave]

check out the NHL's allstar voting
its way worse

some scrub who has 1 point in like 24 games came 3rd for defensemen, and almost started (he was a write-in candidate)

yes, hockey sucks, but still... thats pretty crazy

[mabber]

It's funny how

Shane Battier has more votes than Shawn Marion, Lamar Odom, Josh Howard, and Carlos Boozer
Stackhouse is so close to Tony Parker and Ray Allen

Erick Dampier has more votes than Mehmet Okur and Marcus Camby

And Francisco Elson has more votes than Tyson Chandler.

Battier is just getting the asian vote as they only know Yao and his teammates. Yao could not play a minute due to injury and he'd still get voted in if he were on the ballot.

[ponky]

Battier is just getting the asian vote as they only know Yao and his teammates. Yao could not play a minute due to injury and he'd still get voted in if he were on the ballot.

Uh, same with Shaq , in fact, that's the current situation in the East. It has nothing to do with the *asian* vote if you're referring to China, this argument has been disclaimed a thousand times over.

[SpursWoman]

all-star balloting is a joke. If they put Charles Barkley on the ballot he would make it.


I'd vote for him. :lol :lol

[texas84]

Uh, same with Shaq , in fact, that's the current situation in the East. It has nothing to do with the *asian* vote if you're referring to China, this argument has been disclaimed a thousand times over.

Get real man, Yao and McGrady (and now Battier, to a lesser degree) are leading there respective categories because the vote has been opened up to a BILLION people who only see an occasional Houston Rockets game. You're kidding yourself if you don't think the online Asian voting is effecting the starting line-up for the All-Star game.

Now granted, Yao should be starting if he isn't hurt, but McGrady has been hurt and a shadow of himself for the past year now, and Battier probably barely made a dent on the ballot before this year.

[Bob Lanier]

Get real, man! This false consciousness is keeping the white man down!

[confined]

all i kno is....boozer and josh howard should be all-stars...period

[Holmes_Fans]

Get real man, Yao and McGrady (and now Battier, to a lesser degree) are leading there respective categories because the vote has been opened up to a BILLION people who only see an occasional Houston Rockets game. You're kidding yourself if you don't think the online Asian voting is effecting the starting line-up for the All-Star game.

Now granted, Yao should be starting if he isn't hurt, but McGrady has been hurt and a shadow of himself for the past year now, and Battier probably barely made a dent on the ballot before this year.

I don't get how anyone thinks Battier should be an all star

Here are his stats
PPG 9.8
RPG 4.3
APG 2.7
SPG 1.22
BPG .78
FG% .445
FT% .725
3P% .403
MPG 37.7


Compared to Josh Howard

2006-07 Statistics
PPG 19.3
RPG 6.5
APG 1.9
SPG 1.21
BPG 1.25
FG% .480
FT% .837
3P% .411
MPG 33.9

Battier plays less minutes and has less points/blocks


Here is Lamar Odoms stats

PPG 17.5
RPG 8.7
APG 4.9
SPG .67
BPG .76
FG% .474
FT% .768
3P% .354
MPG 37.9

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Vote for AI :smokin

[polandprzem]

Unfortunately the coaches won't select tp or mg
tracy will be there

[ICE3000]

Only 1 Spur is going to make the All-Star team and that's Duncan in a reserve role.


So you think Dirk will catch him in votes?

[LilMissSPURfect]

ALL STAR VOTING (http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/asb/eng/ballot.html?from=sweeps)

orale ese mabe weee cood get manu the mexican vote

ALL STAR VOTING (http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/asb/eng/ballot.html?from=sweeps)



:clap :clap

[z0sa]

kg finally beats duncan out this year.

[Dirk41MVP]

all-star voting is a J O K E. Shaq has played 4 games this season and yet he has over a million votes, that's ridiculous. This is nothing more than a popularity-based voting. The same guys at the same positions will always make it.

They should change it to player or/and coach voting, the fans have no fucking idea what they are doing... specially the damn Chinese and their bijillion people.... Shane battier with 1/2 mill votes ? WTF ?, shane battier ?, last time I heard he got traded for some "gay" guy and now he's an all-star, my god...

[rayray2k8]

Battier??? Something has to be done about the voting, as well as a limit on how many votes can come out of a country...

[Bob Lanier]

Somehow Chris Bosh has more votes than Shane Battier, and I'm pretty sure Canada's not the size of China.

Somehow Shaquille O'Neal has twice as many votes as Shane Battier, and I'm pretty sure Battier's actually played in games this season.

Somehow Zaza Pachulia has more votes than Eddy Curry, and Steve Francis more than Rip Hamilton :smchode: .

Keep the fucking Americans, Canadians, and Georgians out of the allstar process please. At least the (mostly US-based, but anyone who votes for the teammates of a Chinese man ain't a real merkin) Houston fans are voting for Battier and not Rafer Alston.

[Texas_Ranger]

Battier so high. OMG. Those China fans are really insane if they want that Battier will play on the All-Star. I'm surprised that there is no Juwan Howard on the list, perhapse because China people don't like gays.