BROOKLYN, N.Y.—The NBA announced today that the Brooklyn Nets’ starting five – guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson and frontcourt players Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries – were named to the 2013 NBA All-Star Ballot.
Williams has been selected to the All-Star team in three consecutive seasons, last year leading the Eastern Conference reserves with 20 points after participating as a reserve for the West in 2010 and 2011. Williams also competed in the 2010 Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend and won the competition in 2008. This season, Williams is averaging 16.0 points and a team-leading 7.2 assists, good for 12th-best in the NBA.
Johnson has been selected as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team the past six consecutive seasons, including starting for the East in 2010. This year, Johnson is averaging 13.6 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Lopez participated in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge as a sophomore during 2010 All-Star Weekend and also participated in the game as a rookie in 2009. This season, the fifth-year pro is averaging a team-leading 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest.
Wallace made the Eastern Conference squad in the 2009-10 season, the first player in Charlotte Bobcats franchise history to be chosen. In his lone appearance before suffering an ankle sprain this season, Wallace posted 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Humphries had a breakout season in 2011-12, including being one of only eight players in the NBA to average a points/rebounds double-double (13.8 and 11.0 respectively) and one of only five players to do it the past two seasons (10.0 and 10.4 in 2010-11). Those numbers were good enough to place him fifth in the NBA in rebounds per game the past two seasons as well. This year, Humphries sits 14th in the NBA with 9.8 rebounds per game, including a 14 point/21 rebound performance 11/11/12 against the Orlando Magic.
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).
The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 36 frontcourt and 24 guards from each conference comprising the list. Voters select three frontcourt and two guards from each conference. Previously, the ballot featured three positions with fans picking two guards, two forwards and a center.
The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Steve Aschburner (NBA.com), Jonathan Feigen (Houston Chronicle), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Kenny Smith (TNT).
The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised on TNT from Toyota Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. The All-Star Game, also broadcast live on ESPN Radio, will collectively reach fans in more than 220 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. NBA All-Star 2013 in Houston will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for an 11th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 29th year of All-Star coverage. State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night will feature the NBA All-Star Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2013 will include the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and NBA All-Star Jam Session. The 2013 game will mark the third NBA All-Star celebration in Houston. The city also hosted the event in 1989 and in 2006.