MIAMI, January 23 – The NBA announced tonight that HEAT players LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were selected as starters for the Eastern Conference in a vote of the fans for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game. The 63rd NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at the New Orleans Arena on Sunday, February 16.
James finished as the overall top vote-getting player with 1,416,419 votes. The 2014 All-Star appearance will mark the 10th consecutive for the two-time NBA All-Star MVP (2006 & 2008). In his previous nine All-Star appearances (all starts), he has averaged 25.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.33 steals and 30.8 minutes while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. Earlier this season, James connected on his 5,000th career free throw, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to achieve the feat. He currently leads the HEAT in points (1,074), rebounds (275), assists (266), field goals made (392), three-point field goals made (54) and free throws made (236).
Wade, the 2010 NBA All-Star MVP, led the Eastern Conference guards with 929,542 votes. His 2014 All-Star appearance will mark his 10th-straight and the ninth consecutive year as a starter. In his previous nine All-Star appearances, he has averaged 18.1 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 2.56 steals and 26.7 minutes while shooting 63.2 percent from the field. He posted a 24-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the 2012 All-Star Game and hit the game-winning field goal in the 2006 All-Star Game. His 10 appearances and nine starts are both Miami HEAT franchise highs.
James and Wade are joined by frontcourt players Paul George (Indiana Pacers) and Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) as well as guard Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers). The Western Conference frontcourt starters are Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers) and Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves) and guards Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors). The Eastern and Western Conference reserves will be selected by the league’s 30 head coaches and will be announced on Thursday, January 30 on TNT.