Raptors Named To 2011 All-Star Game Ballot

November 18, 2010

The 2011 NBA All-Star Ballot was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Los Angeles, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2011. Named on the ballot are Toronto Raptors centre Andrea Bargnani, guard DeMar DeRozan and forward Linas Kleiza. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile will begin this afternoon at 3 p.m. The 60th NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TSN in Canada and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011.

DeRozan and Kleiza are both appearing on the All-Star ballot for the first time. DeRozan was selected ninth overall in the 2009 NBA Draft and completed his rookie season averaging 8.6 points in 77 games. He recently scored a career-high 26 points during the Raptors’ victory Nov. 13 at Orlando. Kleiza joined the team as a restricted free-agent in July and is currently averaging 11.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 10 games.

For the first time, fans can print paper ballots at home through their web connected HP Photosmart printer1. HP customers can simply download and launch the NBA print application directly from the touchscreen panel on the front of their printer.2 Fans can print one specially coded ballot per day and put it in the mail as directed on the form. Paper balloting at NBA arenas and through the NBA Print App on HP printers will continue through Jan. 17, while wireless and SMS balloting, and voting on NBA.com will conclude Jan. 23. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 27, during a special onehour pregame show at 7 p.m. featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat at the New York Knicks (8 p.m.) and the Boston Celtics at the Portland Trail Blazers (10:30 p.m.).

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: J.A. Adande (ESPN.com), Marv Albert (TNT), Art Garcia (NBA.com) Marc Spears (Yahoo! Sports), Doug Smith (The Toronto Star) and Ian Thomsen (Sports Illustrated).

NBA All-Star 2011 in Los Angeles will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. The week leading up to the 60th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing activities, fan festivals and events, including the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service, the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, and NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm. NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, the hugely successful interactive basketball celebration, will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center. Los Angeles and the STAPLES Center will host NBA All-Star 2011, marking the fifth time The City of Angels and the second time STAPLES Center will be the site of the annual celebration. STAPLES Center last played host to NBA All-Star in 2004, and L.A. also hosted the All-Star Game in 1963, 1972, and 1983.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the opportunity to experience Los Angeles and the best of basketball by entering the NBA® 2K11 Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2011 and have their likeness as a digitized player incorporated in next year’s game, NBA® 2K12.