Carmelo Anthony Named NBA All-Star Starter

Anthony led all Western Conference forwards with 2,137,560 votes. He will join San Antonio F Tim Duncan, L.A. Lakers G Kobe Bryant, and Phoenix G Steve Nash and C Amar’e Stoudemire in the starting five.

“Thanks to all the fans who continue to support me,” says Anthony. “I appreciate it. I didn’t take anything for granted because anything can happen. No matter how many times you get selected, it’s always exciting making the All-Star team. Anytime the fans vote you in, it’s something special.”

Anthony, who will be making his third All-Star appearance and second as a starter, currently leads the NBA in scoring with a career-high 29.8 ppg. He is also averaging 6.3 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.28 spg, while shooting .471 from the field and a career-best .866 from the foul line. So far this season, he has scored 30+ points 21 times, including five games with 40 or more and one 50-point explosion.

In his two previous All-Star appearances, Anthony has averaged 19.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg in 23.5 minutes per game. In his All-Star debut in 2007, he scored 20 points (10-15 FG) and grabbed nine rebounds to help the West win 153-132 in Las Vegas, Nev. As a starter in 2008, Anthony registered 18 points and seven rebounds in the West’s 134-128 loss in New Orleans, La.

Anthony becomes only the fourth player in Nuggets history to have been named to three or more NBA All-Star teams, joining Alex English (8), Dikembe Mutombo (3) and David Thompson (3). With a start in Dallas on Feb. 14, Anthony will join English and Thompson as the only Nuggets to start multiple All-Star games (English started four of his eight appearances and Thompson all three of his).

The final returns of both the Eastern and Western Conference for the 2010 NBA All-Star Balloting program presented by T-Mobile are listed below:

2010 NBA All-Star Balloting Top-10 Overall Leading Vote-Getters: