With Kobe Bryant announcing this will be his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, fans around the world have shown their appreciation for one of the greatest players of all-time.
Along with the farewell tour, Bryant continues to be the leading vote-getter for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Canada. While there has been debate about whether Bryant deserves to start considering his poor play to start the season, it is clear fans want him to make his 18th appearance.
Here is the press release via Lakers.com:
NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James continue to lead their respective conferences in the second returns of NBA All-Star Voting 2016 presented by Verizon. Bryant, a 17-time All-Star selection, tops all players with 1,262,118 votes, ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (925,789). James, seeking his 12th All-Star nod in 13 seasons, leads the Eastern Conference with 636,388 votes.
James, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (457,554) and the Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond (261,158) continue to pace the East’s frontcourt players, with the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (255,536) close behind. The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (562,558) and the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (271,094) are still the leading vote-getters among East guards, followed by the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (242,276).
Curry and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (479,512 votes) maintain the top two spots among Western Conference guards. Bryant and the Thunder’s Kevin Durant (616,096) remain ahead in the West frontcourt voting, while the Warriors’ Draymond Green (332,223) has moved into the third spot. Green, who has an NBA-high seven triple-doubles this season, leads the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (330,929) by a slim margin.
The 65th NBA All-Star Game will tip off on Sunday, Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the first All-Star Game to be held outside of the U.S. The game will be seen by fans in more than 200 countries and territories and will be heard in more than 40 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game in the U.S. for the 14th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 31st year of NBA All-Star coverage.