Thursday January 22, 2009 9:54 PM

Yao Ming Named All-Star Starter

Rockets center earns starting nod for seventh straight year

Tim Kuck
National Basketball Association

New York - Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, this year’s leading vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program presented by T-Mobile with 3,150,181 votes, became the first player in balloting history to crack the 3 million-vote ceiling. Howard, who is making his third All-Star appearance, will start as the Eastern Conference’s center for the second time in his career.

Through the 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, fans worldwide were
responsible for voting in the starters for the 58th NBA All-Star Game,
which will be played in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 15. The game will air live
(8 p.m. ET) on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and
territories worldwide. The NBA All-Star Game was played in Phoenix in both
1975 and 1995.

Four other starters for this year’s All-Star Game each eclipsed the previous record of 2,558,278 votes received by Houston’s Yao Ming in 2004-05: Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (2,940,823), Los Angeles
guard Kobe Bryant (2,805,397), Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (2,741,413) and
San Antonio forward Tim Duncan (2,578,168).

Joining Howard, James and Wade in the Eastern Conference starting lineup
are Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (2,066,833), last year’s top
vote-getter and the 2003 All-Star MVP, and Detroit Pistons guard Allen
Iverson, the 2001 and 2005 All-Star Game MVP. James, who was the leading
vote-getter in 2006-07 as well as the 2006 and 2008 All-Star Game MVP, and
Wade each will make his fifth midseason classic appearance. Iverson will
appear in his ninth All-Star Game. Among active players, Garnett’s 12th
All-Star selection ranks second to Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal
(14).

Bryant, the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998 as well as a two-time
All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007), and Duncan, who is making his 11th
appearance and was the co-MVP along with Shaquille O’Neal of the 2000
All-Star Game, are joined in the Western Conference starting lineup by New
Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul (2,134,798), Phoenix Suns forward Amar’e
Stoudemire (1,460,429) and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (2,532,958).
Paul will make his second All-Star Game appearance; Stoudemire his fourth;
and Yao his sixth.

In selecting the reserves, the 30 NBA head coaches NBA head coaches must
vote for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two
forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. Coaches are not
permitted to vote for players on their team. After the coaches select the
reserves, if a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, NBA
Commissioner David Stern will select a replacement.

Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson and the Lakers coaching staff
earned the honor to coach the Western Conference All-Stars by clinching the
best winning percentage in the conference through games of Feb. 1. The
Eastern Conference Coach is yet to be determined. Last year’s East All-Star
coach – Boston’s Doc Rivers – is not eligible to coach this year.

Howard, James, Bryant, Wade, Duncan and the rest of year's All-Star
participants will join members of the NBA Family for the NBA Cares All-Star
Day of Service on Friday, Feb. 13. The volunteers will participate in one
of three projects in the Phoenix community.

As the presenting partner of the 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, and
in support of the NBA’s season-long effort to better the various
communities in Phoenix, T-Mobile will donate $1 for every ballot cast on
t-zones, T-Mobile's wireless Web portal, to help the youth of Phoenix. The
week leading up to the 58th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of
community-enhancing activities and fan festivals, such as NBA All-Star Jam
Session presented by adidas and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam
on Friday, Feb. 13.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the
opportunity to experience Phoenix and the best of basketball by entering
the NBA 2K9 Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2009 and
to have their likeness as a digitized player incorporated in next year’s
game, NBA 2K10.

NBA All-Star 2009 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to
experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game
they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and
fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

Eastern Conference Western Conference
F – Kevin Garnett, Boston F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio
F – LeBron James, Cleveland F – Amar’e Stoudemire, Phoenix
C – Dwight Howard, Orlando C – Yao Ming, Houston
G – Allen Iverson, Detroit G – Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G – Dwyane Wade, Miami G – Chris Paul, New Orleans
Head coach: TBD Head coach: Phil Jackson, L.A.
Lakers

2009 NBA ALL-STAR FINAL BALLOTING
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 2,940,823; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 2,066,833; Yi
Jianlian (NJ) 1,813,829; Paul Pierce (Bos) 1,238,763; Chris Bosh (Tor)
1,101,052; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 632,051; Shawn Marion (Mia) 405,573; Danny
Granger (Ind) 365,810; Josh Smith (Atl) 321,129; Tayshaun Prince (Det)
274,540; Michael Beasley (Mia) 273,471.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 2,741,413; Allen Iverson (Det) 1,804,649; Vince
Carter (NJ) 1,239,613; Devin Harris (NJ) 1,182,406; Luke Ridnour (Mil)
1,039,902; Ray Allen (Bos) 851,205; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 635,540; Derrick
Rose (Chi) 474,384; Jose Calderon (Tor) 445,584; Joe Johnson (Atl) 420,210;
Jameer Nelson (Orl) 354,773.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 3,150,181; Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 621,709;
Rasheed Wallace (Det) 402,991; Samuel Dalembert (Phi) 396,119; Andrew Bogut
(Mil) 357,997; Jermaine O’Neal (Tor) 342,723; Al Horford (Atl) 323,302;
Brendan Haywood (Wash) 291,490; Ben Wallace (Clev) 263,862; Zydrunas
Ilgauskas (Cle) 219,697; Emeka Okafor (Char) 212,539.

2009 NBA ALL-STAR FINAL BALLOTING
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Tim Duncan (SA) 2,578,168; Amar’e Stoudemire (Pho) 1,460,429;
Bruce Bowen (SA) 1,392,398; Ron Artest (Hou) 1,362,565; Carmelo Anthony
(Den) 1,337,519; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 1,107,926; Pau Gasol (LAL) 948,301;
Shane Battier (Hou) 694,112; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 497,550; Luis Scola
(Hou) 405,851; Josh Howard (Dal) 298,810.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 2,805,397; Chris Paul (NO) 2,134,798; Tracy
McGrady (Hou) 1,678,516; Manu Ginobili (SA) 1,642,350; Tony Parker (SA)
1,084,361; Steve Nash (Pho) 677,211; Jamal Crawford (GS) 665,038; Rafer
Alston (Hou) 550,199; Jason Kidd (Dal) 477,792; Brandon Roy (Por) 468,688;
Chauncey Billups (Den) 466,073.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 2,532,958; Shaquille O’Neal (Pho) 1,850,018; Andrew
Bynum (LAL) 549,131; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 437,106; Greg Oden (Por) 359,318;
Andris Biedrins (GS) 357,984; Al Jefferson (Minn) 310,643; Tyson Chandler
(NO) 242,356; Chris Kaman (LAC) 231,928; Marcus Camby (LAC) 158,491; Nick
Collison (OKC) 154,309.