Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)
Kobe Bryant’s final season will include a starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward was the top vote-getter and will start for the Western Conference in the Feb. 14 game at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. In his 20th season, Bryant was named an All-Star for the 18th time in his illustrious career.
Bryant is a four-time MVP and the leading scorer (280 points) in All-Star Game history.
The 37-year-old veteran received 1,891,614 votes, finishing ahead of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (1,604,325), who was selected for the third time in his career. It was the fourth time that Bryant was the leading vote-getter and his 16th time as a starter, the most in All-Star history.
Selected as first-time starters were Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. The fifth starter for the Western Conference will be Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who was chosen for the seventh time.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James led the way in the Eastern Conference with 1,089,206 votes. It was his 12th All-Star nod in 13 seasons.
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (646,411) edged James’ teammate, Kyrie Irving, by 32,285 votes for a starting spot in the Eastern Conference backcourt. The other starting guard will be Miami Heat veteran Dwyane Wade (941,466), who is on the squad for the 12th time in 13 seasons.
Joining James in the frontcourt were Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (711,595) and New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (567,348). Anthony nosed out Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol by 360 votes for the final starting spot. Anthony will be making his ninth trip to the All-Star Game and George his third.
NBA head coaches will pick the reserves for the game at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 28 on TNT.
NBA ALL-STAR VOTING
Eastern Conference
Frontcourt
1. LeBron James (Cle) 1,089,206
2. Paul George (Ind) 711,595
3. Carmelo Anthony (NY) 567,348
4. Pau Gasol (Chi) 566,988
5. Andre Drummond (Det) 515,296
6. Kristaps Porzingis (NY) 473,579
7. Chris Bosh (Mia) 351,420
8. Kevin Love (Cle) 332,685
9. Hassan Whiteside (Mia) 301,362
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) 84,617
11. Jonas Valanciunas (Tor) 73,079
12. Joakim Noah (Chi) 48,509
13. DeMarre Carroll (Tor) 46,044
14. Marcin Gortat (Was) 43,496
15. Paul Millsap (Atl) 41,654
Guards
1. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 941,466
2. Kyle Lowry (Tor) 646,441
3. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 580,651
4. Jimmy Butler (Chi) 564,637
5. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 444,868
6. John Wall (Was) 368,686
7. Derrick Rose (Chi) 302,389
8. Jeremy Lin (Cha) 195,920
9. Isaiah Thomas (Bos) 153,642
10. Reggie Jackson (Det) 76,688
Western Conference
Frontcourt
1. Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,891,614
2. Kevin Durant (OKC) 980,787
3. Kawhi Leonard (SA) 782,339
4. Zaza Pachulia (Dal) 768,112
5. Draymond Green (GS) 726,616
6. Blake Griffin (LAC) 651,860
7. Enes Kanter (OKC) 534,499
8. Tim Duncan (SA) 431,087
9. Anthony Davis (NO) 400,688
10. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 364,270
11. DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 269,427
12. LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) 268,003
13. Dwight Howard (Hou) 219,761
14. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 173,317
15. Harrison Barnes (GS) 155,289
Guards
1. Stephen Curry (GS) 1,604,325
2. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 772,009
3. Chris Paul (LAC) 624,334
4. Klay Thompson (GS) 555,513
5. James Harden (Hou) 430,777
6. Manu Ginobili (SA) 226,289
7. Rajon Rondo (Sac) 200,518
8. Tony Parker (SA) 195,472
9. Andre Iguodala (GS) 181,142
10. Damian Lillard (Por) 158,360
