Kobe Bryant receives 18th NBA All-Star Game call-up

Carmelo Anthony of New York, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Indiana’s Paul George round out the Eastern Conference starters.

Since 1998, Bryant has been an All-Star every season except for the 1999 All-Star Game, which was canceled because of the lockout. Thanks in part to a team-high 19 points on a flawless 5-5 from deep from James through two quarters, the Raptors held a comfortable 63-49 lead heading into halftime. Leonard joins Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to be selected an All-Star, NBA Finals MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year. “I look forward toward hopefully being healthy and going out there and playing well”. It is just that it is the previous year of his career and the 20th season of his career. And the Lakers star has never forgotten that time.

While praising Kyle Lowry for his second straight trip as a starter to the National Basketball Association all-star game, Casey made a point of talking up his point guard’s supporting cast.

Scott said ideally Bryant will play 15-20 minutes and take home an All-Star game MVP trophy.

Anthony, Durant and George are off to strong starts after missing significant time last season because of injuries.

By failing to be named a starter for the West on Thursday, Davis can no longer qualify by virtue of having multiple All-Star starter selections.

Davis finished ninth in frontcourt voting.

Kawhi Leonard overtook Draymond Green in the final week of voting to get the third frontcourt spot in the Western Conference, and Zaza Pachulia hilariously wound up with more votes than Green as well. While you have to enjoy the nostalgia of seeing the Black Mamba in one final All-Star Game, the fact that there are more deserving players throughout the league.

All-Star Game reserves will be revealed live on TNT on Thursday, January 28 at 7 p.m. ET, before the network’s doubleheader featuring the Raptors hosting the Knicks at 8 p.m. and the Bulls visiting the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. If a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game after the coaches choose the reserves, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement. “It’s all confidence. He’s rising to the occasion every night”.

NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game.

Bryant was the leading vote-getter for the fourth-time in his career, also earning the honor in 2003, ’11 and ’13.

“I had to play it over in my mind several times, there’s really no explanation for it”, Bryant said. Did Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter belong in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game despite an very bad year statistically? Context is needed to explain Bryant’s performance, as well as how the Lakers turned an 18-point second-half deficit into an 18-point victory.

Damian Lillard remembers tuning in to watch one of his idols in the 4th quarter of his 81-point outburst 10 years ago against the Toronto Raptors.