renuszm
12-11-2003, 05:33 PM
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6914353
NEW YORK -- Kobe Bryant tops the Western Conference in voting for the NBA All-Star Game, leading the Los Angeles Lakers this season while his sexual assault case in Colorado goes forward.
He drew 577,505 votes in the fan vote for the Feb. 15 game in Los Angeles. Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors led all players with 696,652 votes.
The vote totals Thursday were the first released by the league. Balloting continues through Jan. 18.
Bryant is averaging 21-8 points a game, helping the Lakers to a league-best 18-3 start. The guard is charged with attacking a woman in June at a resort. He has said the two had consensual sex.
Other Western Conference leaders were Steve Francis of Houston (286,515) at the other guard slot, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota (539,280) and Tim Duncan of San Antonio (515,009) at the forwards, and Shaquille O'Neal of the Lakers (534,380) at center.
Joining Carter as leaders in the Eastern Conference balloting were Jermaine O'Neal of Indiana (542,673) at the other forward, Allen Iverson of Philadelphia (566,713) and Tracy McGrady of Orlando (417,529) at the guards, and Ben Wallace of Detroit (597,959) at center.
NEW YORK -- Kobe Bryant tops the Western Conference in voting for the NBA All-Star Game, leading the Los Angeles Lakers this season while his sexual assault case in Colorado goes forward.
He drew 577,505 votes in the fan vote for the Feb. 15 game in Los Angeles. Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors led all players with 696,652 votes.
The vote totals Thursday were the first released by the league. Balloting continues through Jan. 18.
Bryant is averaging 21-8 points a game, helping the Lakers to a league-best 18-3 start. The guard is charged with attacking a woman in June at a resort. He has said the two had consensual sex.
Other Western Conference leaders were Steve Francis of Houston (286,515) at the other guard slot, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota (539,280) and Tim Duncan of San Antonio (515,009) at the forwards, and Shaquille O'Neal of the Lakers (534,380) at center.
Joining Carter as leaders in the Eastern Conference balloting were Jermaine O'Neal of Indiana (542,673) at the other forward, Allen Iverson of Philadelphia (566,713) and Tracy McGrady of Orlando (417,529) at the guards, and Ben Wallace of Detroit (597,959) at center.