The All-Star break has arrived in the National Basketball Association. Various events which will lead up to the 63rd NBA All-Star game this weekend kicked off Friday in New Orleans; the city had previously hosted the event in 2008 in the Smoothie King Center (then known as New Orleans Arena).
Starters for the game were selected by the fans, who could select three frontcourt players and two guards for each conference. Miami’s Lebron James was the leading vote-getter with 1,416,419 votes. Warriors PG Stephon Curry was also voted as a starter, which was also his first All-Star selection, after leading all Western Conference guards in the voting, while Minnesota’s Kevin Love overtook Rockets big man Dwight Howard for the final frontcourt starting spot for the West.
Among the much-hyped and anticipated events for the weekend includes the 3-point shootout and the slam dunk competition, both of which have been all-star staples in the past. Various sources have indicated Nets sharpshooter Joe Johnson and Pacers star Paul George to be the frontrunners for the respective contests. Live telecast of the All-Star weekend is being broadcast on BTV and NBA Premium here in the Philippines.
