More from RealGM
 General Basketball WiretapLinksNews Archive
NBA News
Fans vote Kobe to start in All-Star gameNEW YORK (AP) Kobe Bryant was selected to start in the NBA All-Star game, voted in by fans despite a sexual assault charge. The Los Angeles Lakers star led Western Conference guards with 1,759,717 votes in final results released Thursday, fourth among all players. He was picked to start in front of his hometown fans at Staples Center on Feb. 15 in the 53rd NBA All-Star game. Bryant's teammate, Shaquille O'Neal, was beaten out for the second straight year by Houston's Yao Ming. The Chinese center edged O'Neal by less than 32,000 votes. ``That's cool,'' O'Neal said. ``Where he's from there are 2 trillion people.'' But it was O'Neal who got more electronic votes from fans around the world, while Yao had the advantage in paper ballots available in the United States and Canada. Joining Bryant and Yao on the Western Conference squad were Rockets guard Steve Francis, San Antonio forward Tim Duncan and Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett, last year's All-Star game MVP. Toronto Raptors forward Vince Carter led all players with 2,127,183 votes. It's the fourth time he's finished first in the voting, tied for second all-time with Julius Erving. Michael Jordan holds the record with nine. Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal will be the other starting forward for the Eastern Conference. The center is Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, and the guards are Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and Orlando's Tracy McGrady. Bryant is charged with sexual assault for allegedly raping a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort during the offseason. He faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation if convicted of felony sexual assault. Bryant, 25, says the two had consensual sex. It's been a tough season for Bryant on the court as well. He leads Los Angeles in scoring at 21.7 points per game, but he missed six games because of a sprained right shoulder and has heard plenty of boos on the road, where the Lakers are 7-12. The 29 head coaches will vote for the reserves in their respective conferences. Those results will be announced Feb. 3. Indiana's Rick Carlisle will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars. Flip Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves will lead the West. General Basketball, Los Angeles Lakers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Expansion draft scheduled for June 22NEW YORK (AP) The Charlotte Bobcats begin building their roster when an expansion draft is held June 22, unless the NBA Finals goes to a Game 7. The NBA announced the date Friday, with a move-back date of June 23. Each of the 29 NBA teams will be allowed to protect eight players. Under rules set by the NBA Board of Governors, the Bobcats' payroll will be limited to two-thirds of the salary cap in 2004-05 and three-quarters of the cap in '05-06. Charlotte will pick fourth in the 2004 draft but will be eligible for the first overall pick in 2005. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback WizFans/RealGM learns Slam-Dunk participantsRealGM.com and WizFans.com has learned the participants of the 2004 All-Star Slam-Dunk Contest. Two-time defending champion Jason Richardson, of Golden State, will defend his title and will be challenged by newcomers Fred Jones of the Indiana Pacers and Chris Anderson of the Denver Nuggets. According to a league source, the fourth participant of the Slam-Dunk contest is to be determined in hopes that LeBron James will participate. Via WizFans.com and RealGM.com General Basketball, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Jan 2004 Archive
|
