Although there’s plenty of talented players at all positions in the Western Conference this year, all five Lakers starters were named to the ballot according to the recent press release:
EL SEGUNDO – Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace were named to the 2013 All-Star ballot presented by Sprint which was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Houston, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2013.
This season there’s a little twist to the All-Star voting with the center position taken off the ballot. Instead of being required to vote for one center in both conferences, the NBA has removed the position and given three votes for three frontcourt players.
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Lakers’ center Dwight Howard one of the big-name players in the league that aren’t fond of the NBA’s new rule to remove his position from the ballot. Howard claims that centers work as hard as anyone else on the basketball floor and deserve to have the position on the ballot.
It’s hard to argue with Howard’s opinion on the subject considering all the physical abuse NBA centers can take over the course of an 82-game regular season. Even though Howard disagrees with the new rule, there’s little chance it will impact his status as a perennial All-Star starter.
As for the rest of the Lakers that appear on the ballot, Kobe Bryant is a given to be named a starter in the backcourt. Steve Nash, Metta World Peace and Pau Gasol will likely be fighting for spots on the West roster as reserves, but all five starters for the Lakers have a legitimate shot of being voted as All-Stars this season.
The All-Star starters for both conferences will be announced on Jan. 17 and the voting will conclude three days prior on Jan. 14.