Luol Deng wore a T-shirt honoring Africa during pre-game introductions at the All-Star Game, raising awareness while also risking a potential fine.

"If I get fined, I'm OK," he told ESPN. "To me, what I did is worth it for me. I wouldn't do something that's negative. I'm not advertising anything.

"I just felt like being where I'm from and where I came from, it's something that I always wanted to see as a kid. I'm sure there's a kid out there, or a lot of kids, who really enjoyed it and made them happy to see that."

Kobe Bryant suffered a broken nose and mild concussion in Sunday's All-Star Game, according to a source.

Dwyane Wade fouled Bryant hard in the third quarter of the game.

Bryant plans to play on Wednesday against Minnesota, according to a source.

Bryant flew back to Los Angeles on Sunday evening following a CT scan.

Kevin Durant won the 2012 NBA All-Star Game MVP as the Western Conference withstood a late charge from the Eastern Conference to win 152-149.

Durant scored 36 points on 25 shots from the floor. Kobe Bryant scored 27 points while passing Michael Jordan to become the all-time leading All-Star Game scorer.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade led the Eastern Conference. James had 36 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Wade had a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Jeremy Lin is more marketable than Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, according to a recent Nielsen poll.

Nielsen's N-Score measures name and image awareness, appeal and personality attributes such as sincerity, approachability, experience and influence. Lin topped the survey with an N-Score of 102. Bryant scored a 90 while James gets 84.

About 19% of the U.S. population has heard of Lin, say Nielsen, and of those 30% say they like him.

Amar’e Stoudemire is averaging 17.5 points per game this season, down from his 23.5 average during his first season with the Knicks.

“No worries,’’ said Stoudemire. “I’ve spent a year where I’ve pretty much had to sacrifice a lot of my game. Whatever it takes to win. That’s the ultimate goal. If it’s sacrificing the All-Star Game for the betterment of the team, it’s how it goes sometimes.’’

Stoudemire is currently vacationing in the Caribbean.

“The break is always great,’’ Stoudemire said. “You want a break from your job now and then. It’s a great opportunity to unwind and reflect on the first half of the year, enjoy the family, get back to work. Anytime you get a break from the game to kick back, relax and enjoy the family, it’s good. ... I’m going to sit back and relax on the beach, sit in nice, cool shade and hang out.’’

This Saturday night in Orlando, the NBA will hold its 26th annual Three-Point Shootout. The list of winners is overflowing with some of the greatest sharpshooters in league history – Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price, Steve Kerr, Jeff Hornacek, Ray Allen and Peja Stojakovic.

We have seen eight different winners in the past nine years, after there were eight unique winners over the first 14 All-Star weekends. There were just three winners – Bird, Dale Ellis and Hodges – from 1986 to 1992.

James Jones, the reigning champion, will defend his title against Miami teammate Mario Chalmers, Ryan Anderson of the hometown Magic, Anthony Morrow of the Nets, and All-Stars Kevin Love and Kevin Durant.

Unlike the Slam Dunk contest, which features four relative unknowns (we know our RealGM readers are very familiar with the quartet), Love and Durant bring star power to this competition.

We have taken a look at the shooting percentages for each winner of the Three-Point Shootout (25 contests, 17 winners) to try and predict who will win the 2012 event.

Here is a list of the winners and their percentage from downtown during the season in which they won the contest:

2011: James Jones, Miami – 42.9%
2010: Paul Pierce, Boston – 41.4%
2009: Daequan Cook, Miami – 38.7%
2008: Jason Kapono, Toronto – 48.3%
2007: Kapono, Miami – 51.4%
2006: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas – 40.6%
2005: Quentin Richardson, Phoenix – 35.8%
2004: Voshon Lenard, Denver – 36.7%
2003: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento – 38.2%
2002: Stojakovic, Sacramento – 41.6%
2001: Ray Allen, Milwaukee – 43.4%
2000: Jeff Hornacek, Utah – 47.8%
1999: No All-Star Weekend, Lockout-Shortened Season
1998: Hornacek, Utah – 44.1%
1997: Steve Kerr, Chicago – 46.4%
1996: Tim Legler, Washington – 52.2%
1995: Glen Rice, Miami – 41%
1994: Mark Price, Cleveland – 39.7%
1993: Price, Cleveland – 41.6%
1992: Craig Hodges, Chicago – 37.5%
1991: Hodges, Chicago – 38.3%
1990: Hodges, Chicago – 48.1%
1989: Dale Ellis, Seattle – 47.8%
1988: Larry Bird, Boston – 41.4%
1987: Bird, Boston – 40%
1986: Bird, Boston – 42.3% 

The average three-point shooting percentage for the winner of the contest is 42.7%. Nine of the 25 winners had a shooting percentage within two points of the average.

2012 Three-Point Percentages:

Jones, Miami – 42%
Chalmers, Miami – 45.6%
Anderson, Orlando – 43.4%
Morrow, New Jersey – 40.2%
Love, Minnesota – 34.8%
Durant, Oklahoma City – 36.5%

Comparing the mean shooting percentages of Shootout winners to the percentages of the six entrants this season, the most likely winners appear to be Jones and Anderson. Both players are seven-tenths of the percentage off the mean. Anderson, in his fourth NBA season, has never shot higher than 39.3% over the course of a full year.

Jones has shot better than 41.1% from deep in four of his last five seasons. You can take your pick between the two, but history is leans towards a second-straight title for Jones.

Derrick Rose said his back is pain-free and he expects to play in the All-Star game this weekend.

"My back is feeling good," Rose said. "I’m not worried about it anymore. I don’t feel any pain. I’m stretching a lot, making sure I’m loose."

Rose is making regular visits to a chiropractor and doing more stretching.

"I’ll go see him after shootarounds and on days off," Rose said. "I go there for an hour so he can work on me and just get back to what I’m doing.

"I’m good. I don’t feel any pain in my back. My hamstring isn’t tight. I feel loose. Fatigue is another thing from not playing. But it’s coming along."

Joe Johnson underwent an MRI in Atlanta on Tuesday, and he was diagnosed with left knee tendinitis. As previously announced, he’ll miss the Hawks’ next two games.

In addition, Johnson won’t participate in this weekend’s All-Star game and activities in Orlando. He will be re-evaluated prior to Atlanta’s first game after the All-Star break

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe is reporting that Rajon Rondo will replace Johnson on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz has replaced New York's Iman Shumpert in the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest.

The Houston Rockets’ Chase Budinger, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Derrick Williams will also compete.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will defend his Taco Bell Skills Challenge title against a field consisting of Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, John Wall of the Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets.

The 2012 Taco Bell Skills Challenge will take place on Feb. 25, at Amway Center in Orlando.