The votes have been cast and counted for the 2015 All-Star game, with Stephen Curry getting more than anyone else in the league, even more than LeBron James. Two brothers, Pau and Marc Gasol were chosen to start, but on different sides of the court, which is a first in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant was selected for his 17th All-Star game but won’t be able to play because of a shoulder injury, while the East backcourt of John Wall and Kyle Lowry features two first-time starters, something that hasn’t happened since 2000.
East
Guard: The most popular player among the guards was John Wall of the Washington Wizards, making his second All-Star appearance, picking up 886,368 of the votes. Wall is leading the NBA in assists with 10 per game. He’s also averaging 17 points a night with 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 45.7% from the field.
Guard: Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors will make his All-Star game debut thanks to a late surge in the voting to take him past Dwyane Wade. Lowry is enjoying his best season in the league so far, averaging 19.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. Lowry got 805,290 of the votes.
Forward: The most popular player in the East got 1,470,483 of the votes. Now that he’s not injured, it seems things are going well for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 26 points per game (second in the league), 7.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game, making the All-Star game for an 11th time.
Forward: After a four-year absence, Pau Gasol is back in the All-Star game, making his fifth appearance. He is averaging 18.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in what feels like a rejuvenation season for him despite turning 34 last summer. It probably has something to do with leaving the Lakers and joining the Chicago Bulls. He got 974,177 of the votes.
Forward: The New York Knicks might be the worst team in the NBA, but they have an All-Star. Carmelo Anthony got 647,005 votes and will be in the game for the 8th time in his career. Anthony is averaging 24 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, shooting 45.1% from the field.
West
Guard: With 1,513,324 votes, Stephen Curry is the most popular player going into this All-Star game, making his second appearance. Curry is leading the NBA along with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 23.2 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 50.1% from the field, 40.2% from beyond the arc and 91.5% from the line.
Guard: With 1.1 million votes, Kobe Bryant is selected into his 17th All-Star, but he won’t be taking part in it (once again) because of his rotator cuff injury. James Harden is likely to play in his place. Bryant is averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game but shooting just 37.3% from the field with the awful Los Angeles Lakers.
Forward: The most popular of the big men is Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans with 1,369,911 votes. Davis will be playing in his second All-Star game, and is averaging 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.
Forward: For the first time in All-Star history, brothers will be on opposing sides of the starting lineups. Marc Gasol with 795,121 votes will be playing for the second time in the All-Star game, representing the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s averaging 19.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.
Forward: For the fifth consecutive time, Blake Griffin will be in the All-Star game, receiving just over 700,000 votes. The Los Angeles Clippers star is averaging 23 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.