Kobe Bryant leads by a big margin in second returns of the 2016 NBA All-Star Game voting
The 2016 NBA All-Star Game voting began on December 10th and ends six weeks later on 22nd of January. Four weeks in, the second returns of the voting process are in and just like the first returns, Kobe Bryant rules the roost. The Los Angeles Lakers franchise superstar, in his final season of his NBA career, currently leads not only the Western Conference but the league overall with 1,262,118 votes.
Last year’s highest overall vote-getter Golden State Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry checks in at the second spot overall with 925,789 votes. Meanwhile in the East, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James leads with 636,388 votes. Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (457,554) and Detroit Pistons’ center Andre Drummond (261,158) are slated to join James in the front court for the East as per the voting returns so far.
With Bryant listed as a forward, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (479,512) locks up the other starting guard spot for the West. 2014 NBA league MVP Kevin Durant (616,096) and Warriors’ Draymond Green (332,223) join Bryant in the West front court. Over the last two weeks, Green jumped two spots in the voting and currently holds a slim lead over Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (330,929) for the third front court spot.
NBA will release the next voting update on 14th January and the final list of All-Star starters will be announced on TNT’s (Turner Network Television) show “Inside the NBA” on 22nd of January.
The reserves for the All-Star Game, that are selected based on voting from the 30 NBA Head Coaches, will be announced a week later on the same show. The 2016 NBA All-Star Game is the 65th edition and the first to be held outside the United States. The game will be held on Feb 14th, 2016 at the Toronto Raptors’ arena Air Canada Center.
Here are the second returns of the NBA All-Star Game voting returns:
| 1. | Stephen Curry (GSW) | 925,789 |
| 2. | Russell Westbrook (OKC) | 479,512 |
| 3. | Chris Paul (LAC) | 268,672 |
| 4. | Klay Thompson (GSW) | 267,602 |
| 5. | James Harden (HOU) | 249,877 |
| 6. | Rajon Rondo (SAC) | 120,767 |
| 7. | Andre Iguodala (GSW) | 111,575 |
| 8. | Manu Ginobili (SAS) | 100,602 |
| 9. | Tony Parker (SAS) | 86,238 |
| 10. | Damian Lillard (POR) | 81,035 |
| 1. | Dwyane Wade (MIA) | 562,558 |
| 2. | Kyrie Irving (CLE) | 271,094 |
| 3. | Kyle Lowry (TOR) | 242,276 |
| 4. | Jimmy Butler (CHI) | 220,429 |
| 5. | John Wall (WAS) | 207,274 |
| 6. | DeMar Derozan (TOR) | 170,539 |
| 7. | Derrick Rose (CHI) | 159,787 |
| 8. | Jeremy Lin (CHA) | 122,988 |
| 9. | Isaiah Thomas (BOS) | 87,452 |
| 10. | Reggie Jackson (DET) | 44,525 |
| 1. | Kobe Bryant (LAL) | 1,262,118 |
| 2. | Kevin Durant (OKC) | 616,096 |
| 3. | Draymond Green (GSW) | 332,223 |
| 4. | Kawhi Leonard (SAS) | 330,929 |
| 5. | Blake Griffin (LAC) | 298,212 |
| 6. | Anthony Davis (NOP) | 261,491 |
| 7. | Tim Duncan (SAS) | 228,995 |
| 8. | Zaza Pachulia (DAL) | 194,421 |
| 9. | DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) | 190,060 |
| 10. | Enes Kanter (OKC) | 183,468 |
| 11. | LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS) | 124,404 |
| 12. | Dwight Howard (HOU) | 120,424 |
| 13. | Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) | 99,681 |
| 14. | DeAndre Jordan (LAC) | 91,186 |
| 15. | Harrison Barnes (GSW) | 82,427 |
| 1. | LeBron James (CLE) | 636,388 |
| 2. | Paul George (IND) | 457,554 |
| 3. | Andre Drummond (DET) | 261,158 |
| 4. | Carmelo Anthony (NYK) | 255,536 |
| 5. | Pau Gasol (CHI) | 209,006 |
| 6. | Chris Bosh (MIA) | 194,429 |
| 7. | Kevin Love (CLE) | 172,517 |
| 8. | Hassan Whiteside (MIA) | 168,549 |
| 9. | Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) | 160,170 |
| 10. | Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | 48,768 |
| 11. | Jonas Valanciunas (TOR) | 30,023 |
| 12. | Marcin Gortat (WAS) | 27,185 |
| 13. | Joakim Noah (CHI) | 23,121 |
| 14. | DeMarre Carroll (ATL) | 22,797 |
| 15. | Paul Millsap (ATL) | 21,625 |