B.J. Armstrong, the former Bulls guard, started in the 1994 All-Star game. Armstrong, a sweet-shooting yet unspectacular guard, received the nod largely due to exposure as Michael Jordan's backcourt mate.

The selection showed the pitfall of fans voting for the best players in the NBA. The following season, Armstrong was placed in the expansion draft.

Popularity and marketing are as significant as performance. Occasionally, a prominent player who is injured garners overwhelming votes. This year, Orlando's Grant Hill just missed being named a starter despite season-ending surgery.

But the NBA allows coaches to amend egregious selections by choosing seven reserves for each conference. (Coaches couldn't vote for their own players.)

This season, fans showed sound judgment with almost all their selections. The exception was Steve Francis starting in the West over Gary Payton, arguably the best point guard in the NBA.

Ten All-Stars were first-time selections, the most in NBA history. Original starters Vince Carter (strained left quad) and Shaquille O'Neal (arthritic big toe) will miss the event. New Jersey's Jason Kidd will start for Carter while Chris Webber starts for O'Neal.

Here's a closer look at the starters ? as voted by the fans ? and the rest of the All-Star cast.

Western Conference

Guards Kobe Bryant and Steve Francis: At age 23, Bryant is one of the most popular figures in sports, and he's also one of the NBA's best players. The Laker was an easy pick, but that wasn't the case for his backcourt mate. Steve Francis will likely be the best point guard in the NBA once Payton and Jason Kidd retire. Since Kidd moved to the East, Payton should have received the nod. At 33, Payton is having perhaps his best season, while Francis missed 19 games because of injuries. Dallas' Steve Nash's status as one of the league's best point guards was confirmed by his selection from coaches.

Forwards Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett: Duncan and Garnett will garner MVP votes, which made these two spots easy. Webber is one of the best players in the NBA, but the Kings flourished in the first half as the power forward missed 23 games with injuries. Coaches gave Karl Malone the nod over Elton Brand. The Clippers power forward was named to replace O'Neal. Brand, an injury replacement, becomes the first Clippers All-Star since Danny Manning in 1994. Minnesota's Wally Szczerbiak and Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic are first-time All-Stars. Portland's Rasheed Wallace didn't make it, not just because of his boorish image. He's shooting 45.7 percent.

Center Shaquille O'Neal: The 7-1 behemoth is likely to start on the All-Star team for the rest of his career, barring injury. Dirk Nowitzki made his first All-Star selection as a reserve despite infrequently playing center. The second best pure center in the West is Sacramento's Vlade Divac. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson was upset over Divac's omission.

Eastern Conference

Guards Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan: Jordan was inexplicably listed as a guard, although the Wizards' star switched to small forward for his comeback. Coming off an MVP season, Iverson received the other spot. That left out Kidd, who's having an MVP season. But Carter's injury helped justice prevail: Kidd starts alongside Iverson while Jordan switches to his real position. Charlotte's Baron Davis, one of the league's best guards, replaced Carter. Milwaukee's Ray Allen was named by the coaches.

Forwards Vince Carter and Antoine Walker: Carter has eclipsed Jordan as the most popular player in the NBA, but fans won't get to see him because of the injury suffered during Thursday's 80-74 victory over the Spurs. Walker shoots only 39.2 percent, but the Celtics forward's stature has increased with Boston's victories. Walker's teammate, Paul Pierce, is more deserving to start, along with Orlando reserve Tracy McGrady, whose defense makes him the East's best forward. Atlanta's Shareef Abdur-Rahim's selection was overdue.

Center Dikembe Mutombo: Philadelphia's center can alter a game with his shot-blocking. But the best center in the East is reserve Jermaine O'Neal, who occasionally played like his first name was Shaq. Alonzo Mourning's selection wasn't a pity vote. The Heat center regained his health during the past month, which led to Miami's resurgence.