Kobe Bryant: LA Lakers guard dominating first 2016 NBA All-Star votes

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named an NBA All-Star on 19 occasions, but Kobe Bryant does have an edge on him in All-Star games as the leading point scorer in the contest’s history.

Oklahoma City’s Russel Westbrook (267,699 votes, MVP of the 2015 All-Star Game in New York), and Kevin Durant (349,473 votes), and the L.A. Clippers’ Blake Griffin (182,107 votes) make up the rest of the West’s top five.

Bryant has 719,235 votes, more than 200,000 ahead of Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who has the second-most points. Curry was last season’s leading vote-getter, and went on to win the NBA MVP award as his Warriors won the NBA Championship. The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (300,595) is the leading vote-getter among East guards, followed by the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving (138,191).

With Kobe Bryant officially retiring at the end of the 2015-16 NBA season, one debate is whether he should play at the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.

James, who is in his 13th pro season, is seeking his 12th consecutive start in an All-Star Game, which is virtually guaranteed. James received the most votes among Eastern Conference players. They can also vote on NBA.com, through the NBA App (available on Android and iOS), SMS text and social media networks including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as via Sina Weibo and Tencent Microblogs in China.

Voting will conclude Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at 11:59:59 p.m. ET.

It’s hard to argue with any of the starters – two guards, and three front court players – in either conference.

Fans vote in the starters for the 65th All-Star game, set for Sunday, Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.