Lakers’ Kobe Bryant gives a thumbs up before an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The only thing that will keep Kobe Bryant out of the 2016 NBA All-Star game will become his health. Otherwise, Bryant looks to be assured of making his 18th and final All-Star appearance on Feb. 14 in Toronto.
Bryant leads all NBA players in All-Star balloting with a league-leading 1,262,118 votes in the second returns announced on Thursday by the NBA. That marks a considerable lead over Golden State’s Stephen Curry (925,789 votes), Cleveland’s LeBron James (636,388) and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant (616,096).
The Clippers’ Chris Paul ranks third among Western Conference points guards ((268,672), while the Clippers’ Blake Griffin ranks fifth among the Westeron Conference’s front-court players (298,212).
Fans vote for five starters, while the 30 NBA coaches will vote for reserves. As of now, the Western Conference starters would include Curry, Paul, Bryant, Durant and Golden State’s Draymond Green (332,223).
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