Yao Muscles in on Shaq in All-Star Vote
January 23, 2004
Yao Ming is making a strong run at Shaquille O’Neal to be the Western Conference’s starting center at the NBA All-Star game next month.Fewer than 24,000 votes separated the two in the third set of totals released on Jan. 12. Balloting continues through Jan. 18 for the Feb. 15 game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, O’Neal’s home arena.
Yao, averaging 15.3 points and 8.9 rebounds for Houston, drew 1,091,997 votes. O’Neal, averaging 20 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Lakers, leads the center vote in the West with 1,115,881.
In the previous release of ballots, the two were separated by 142,059 votes.
Vince Carter of Toronto (1,629,169) and Kobe Bryant of the Lakers (1,333,262) are the top vote-getters in their conferences.
Carter and Jermaine O’Neal of Indiana have the most votes among Eastern Conference forwards. The leading guards are Allen Iverson of Philadelphia and Tracy McGrady of Orlando. Cleveland rookie LeBron James is fourth, behind Jason Kidd of New Jersey.
Ben Wallace of Detroit leads by more than a million votes at center.
In the West, the leading guards are Bryant and Steve Francis of Houston. The two top forwards are Kevin Garnett of Minnesota and Tim Duncan of San Antonio.
Balloting this season expanded to include 17 languages on the NBA’s Web site.
NBA 2003-04 All-Star Voting (as of Jan. 11)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Centers
Shaquille O’Neal, L.A. Lakers, 1,115,881; Yao Ming, Houston, 1,091,997; Brad Miller, Sacramento, 175,973; Radoslav Nesterovic, San Antonio, 159,321; Vlade Divac, Sacramento, 152,574.
Forwards
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota, 1,305,540; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 1,272,767; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 450,589; Carmelo Anthony, Denver, 427,564; Karl Malone, L.A. Lakers, 404,244; Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento, 318,777; Chris Webber, Sacramento, 287,336; Pau Gasol, Memphis, 275,448; Antoine Walker, Dallas, 219,876; Malik Rose, San Antonio, 153,020.
Guards
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 1,333,262; Steve Francis, Houston, 727,103; Gary Payton, L.A. Lakers, 537,132; Steve Nash, Dallas, 461,592; Emanuel Ginobili, San Antonio, 440,827; Mike Bibby,
Sacramento, 346,280; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 274,630; Michael Finley, Dallas, 200,677; Ray Allen, Seattle, 187,282; Cuttino Mobley, Houston, 161,230.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Centers
Ben Wallace, Detroit, 1,465,308; Alonzo Mourning, New Jersey, 327,962; Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland, 284,493; Eddy Curry, Chicago, 132,076; Antonio Davis, Chicago, 109,490.
Forwards
Vince Carter, Toronto, 1,629,169; Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana, 1,225,350; Kenyon Martin, New Jersey, 492,972; Scottie Pippen, Chicago, 272,722; Ron Artest, Indiana, 268,601; Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Atlanta, 193,894; Carlos Boozer, Cleveland, 176,397; Richard Jefferson, New Jersey, 166,219; Toni Kukoc, Milwaukee, 136,155; Lamar Odom, Miami, 114,180.
Guards
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, 1,322,327; Tracy McGrady, Orlando, 939,547; Jason Kidd, New Jersey, 836,707; LeBron James, Cleveland, 577,471; Baron Davis, New Orleans, 419,836; Stephon Marbury, New York, 298,911; Paul Pierce, Boston, 247,892; Reggie Miller, Indiana, 147,215; Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 146,909; Gilbert Arenas, Washington, 138,411.
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