NBA News: All-Star Balloting Updates

Via NBA Press Release:

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers continues leading the field with 1,177,456 votes, following the third returns of the 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint. The Miami Heat’s LeBron James, with 1,151,304 votes, is a close second. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (1,088,797) and the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (1,054,099) are second in West and East, respectively.

Balloting will conclude on Jan. 14, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 17, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Clippers at the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET) and the Miami Heat at the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).

James, Anthony and the Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (390,751) are the leading vote-getters among the Eastern Conference’s frontcourt players. The Heat’s Dwyane Wade is pacing Eastern Conference backcourt players with 765,077 votes, followed by the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo (675,822).

Bryant’s intra-city rival, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, is the second-leading vote-getter among Western Conference backcourt players with 651,893 votes. Joining Durant in the frontcourt following the third returns are the Lakers’ Dwight Howard (716,671) and the Clippers’ Blake Griffin (593,024).

The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be played at the Toyota Center in Houston, Tex. on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 (8 p.m. ET), televised exclusively on TNT and broadcast exclusively on ESPN Radio in the U.S. The All-Star Game will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.