The official 2008 NBA All-Star ballot was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in New Orleans, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2008. All-Star Balloting will officially begin on Thursday, November 15, and the 2008 NBA All-Star Game will be held at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, February 17, 2008.

Three Washington Wizards are featured on this year’s ballot; former All-Stars Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Arenas is a three-time All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007) who was voted in by the fans as a starter in the 2007 game. Butler made his first career All-Star appearance in 2007, and Antawn Jamison made his first career All-Star appearance in 2005.

The 2008 NBA All-Star Balloting program allows fans around the world to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the All-Star Game at each NBA arena, on NBA.com, at T-Mobile-owned retail locations, and through mobile phones. One hundred twenty players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – are listed on the NBA All-Star ballot, 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 experts who regularly cover the NBA, including Ric Bucher (ESPN the Magazine), Rick Bonnell (Charlotte Observer), David Dupree (USA Today), Ernie Johnson (TNT), Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated), Mike Monroe (San Antonio Express News) and Sam Smith (Chicago Tribune).