Despite injuries, Kobe Bryant leads All-Star voting in backcourt
Kobe Bryant is still a likely to be voted by fans to be a starter on the Western Conference All-Star team, according to an All-Star balloting update Tuesday from the NBA.
Despite playing just six games so far this season while recovering from an Achilles tear and now a knee injury, Bryant leads all backcourt players in both conferences with 723,031 votes.
Clippers guard Chris Paul is second in the west with 533,647, followed by Golden State’s Stephen Curry (481,698). The top two vote-getters in each conference make the team, along with the top three frontcourt players. Reserves are determined by the league’s 30 coaches.
Miami’s Dwyane Wade (565,455) and Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving (524,000) appear on track to start for the Eastern conference. Chicago’s Derrick Rose is third (299,950), despite a season-ending knee injury.
Miami’s LeBron James (854,105) received the most overall votes, followed by Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant (850,728).
If the voting trends hold firm, Indiana’s Paul George (712,808) and New York’s Carmelo Anthony (580,795) will join James, Wade and Irving as the east’s starters.
Houston’s Dwight Howard (408,623) and Clippers forward Blake Griffin (399,357) would round out the Western Conference team with Bryant, Paul and Durant.
Minnesota’s Kevin Love (377,941) is still within range to displace Griffin. Pau Gasol is a distant eighth with 177,883 votes.
The 63rd NBA All-Star Game will be held in New Orleans on Feb. 16. Balloting concludes on Jan. 20.
Steve Nash, who also has played just six games for the Lakers, has gotten 81,377 votes, placing him 10th in the West.
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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