by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni
Starting lineups for the NBA’s midseason bonanza were announced Thursday night — the East and West lineups feature some familiar faces, and a few surprises.
Despite pleading with fans to vote for younger, healthier players, Kobe Bryant was picked to hoop in his 16th NBA All-Star Game, while Steph Curry will make the first start of his career.
From the press release:
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will start in his first NBA All-Star Game, having secured the top spot among Western Conference backcourt players after the final returns of NBA All-Star Balloting 2014 presented by Sprint. Curry (1,047,281) is joined in the West backcourt by the L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (988,884), who was selected to play in his 16th All-Star Game, second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19). LeBron James of the Miami Heat was the leading overall vote-getter with 1,416,419 votes, followed closely by Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished with 1,396,294 votes.
James, an All-Star for the 10th time in 11 seasons, is joined in East’s frontcourt by the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (1,211,318) and the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (935,702). The Heat’s Dwyane Wade (929,542) and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (860,221) comprise the Eastern Conference’s starting backcourt. Wade is also making his 10th trip to the All-Star Game in 11 seasons.
James, an All-Star for the 10th time in 11 seasons, is joined in East’s frontcourt by the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (1,211,318) and the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (935,702). The Heat’s Dwyane Wade (929,542) and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (860,221) comprise the Eastern Conference’s starting backcourt. Wade is also making his 10th trip to the All-Star Game in 11 seasons.
Durant, who earned his fifth All-Star nod, is joined in the frontcourt in the West by the L.A. Clippers’ Blake Griffin (688,466) and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love (661,246), who overtook the Houston Rockets’ Dwight Howard for the final starting frontcourt spot in the West. It’s the fourth straight All-Star nod for Griffin, while Love is set to play in his third All-Star Game.
Reserves will be announced Thursday, Jan. 30 on TNT.
The 63rd NBA All-Star Game takes place Sunday, Feb.16 in New Orleans.
