The NBA announced the results of its All-Star Game balloting, and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony will be a starting forward for the Western Conference team. Anthony finished with 1,299,849 votes, second among forwards to only Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (1,736,728).
If Anthony is traded to an Eastern Conference team before the game, he will automatically join the team, but as a bench player because his votes place him outside the top two Eastern Conference forwards. He is averaging 23.6 points and 8.0 rebounds this season.
Here are the starting squads for both teams:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- Guard: Kobe Bryant, Lakers
- Guard: Chris Paul, Hornets
- Forward: Kevin Durant, Thunder
- Forward: Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
- Center: Yao Ming, Rockets
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- Guard: Derrick Rose, Bulls
- Guard: Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Forward: LeBron James, Heat
- Forward: Amare Stoudemire, Knicks
- Center: Dwight Howard, Magic
Kobe Bryant was the league's leading vote-getter with 2,380,016. Dwight Howard, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade followed. Though he was voted a starter, Yao Ming is out for the season with an ankle injury. Commissioner David Stern will select his replacement, and Denver's Nene is a possibility. He finished third among Western Conference centers with 599,048 votes.