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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, this year's leading vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program with 3,150,181 votes, became the first player in balloting history to crack the 3 million-vote ceiling. Howard, who is making his third All-Star appearance, will start as the Eastern Conference's center for the second time in his career.

Through the 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, fans worldwide were responsible for voting in the starters for the 58th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 15. The NBA All-Star Game was played in Phoenix in both 1975 and 1995.

Four other starters for this year's All-Star Game each eclipsed the previous record of 2,558,278 votes received by Houston' s Yao Ming in 2004-05: Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (2,940,823), Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant (2,805,397), Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (2,741,413) and San Antonio forward Tim Duncan (2,578,168).

Joining Howard, James and Wade in the Eastern Conference starting lineup are Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (2,066,833), last year's top vote-getter and the 2003 All-Star MVP, and Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson, the 2001 and 2005 All-Star Game MVP. James, who was the leading vote-getter in 2006-07 as well as the 2006 and 2008 All-Star Game MVP, and Wade each will make his fifth midseason classic appearance. Iverson will appear in his ninth All-Star Game. Among active players, Garnett's 12th All-Star selection ranks second to Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal (14).

Bryant, the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998 as well as a two-time All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007), and Duncan, who is making his 11th appearance and was the co-MVP along with Shaquille O'Neal of the 2000 All-Star Game, are joined in the Western Conference starting lineup by New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul (2,134,798), Phoenix Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire (1,460,429) and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (2,532,958). Paul will make his second All-Star Game appearance; Stoudemire his fourth; and Yao his sixth.

Starting Line-ups

Eastern Conference                                                                    Western Conference
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston                                                           F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio
F - LeBron James, Cleveland                                                     F - Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando                                                       C - Yao Ming, Houston
G - Allen Iverson, Detroit                                                            G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami                                                           G - Chris Paul, New Orlean

 

All-Star Weekend Events

Friday

1. Rookie Challenge: The Rookie Challenge matches the league's top rookies against the best second-year players, or sophomores, with nine players per team.
2. Celebrity All-Star Game: NBA legends team up with Hollywood celebrities for this entertaining match-up.

Saturday

1. Slam Dunk Contest: Four of the league's best slam dunkers face-off in a two-round competition where they are graded for creativity, power and finesse.
2. Three-point Shootout: Six of the top long-distance shooters face-off in a two-round competition. Previous winners include Larry Bird and Jeff Hornacek.
3. Skills Challenge: Four NBA players run through a timed obstacle course that includes dribbling, passing and shooting stations.
4. Shooting Stars Competition: Features four teams of three members each - an NBA player, WNBA player and NBA legend in a timed one-round shooting event.

Sunday (The Main Event)

NBA All-Star Game: The top players from the Western Conference take on the Best from the East.

 

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The Game itself...

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 27 points on 12-for-23 shooting and Shaquille O'Neal scored 17 on 8-for-9 shooting in 11 minutes, as the Western Conference beat the East 146-119 in the 58th All-Star Game. For their efforts the former teammates who won three titles with the Lakers shared the MVP award.

It's the third All-Star MVP for both Bryant (2002, 2007, 2009) and O'Neal (2000, 2004, 2009). They join Oscar Robertson (1961, 1964, 1969) and Michael Jordan (1988, 1996, 1998) as three-time All-Star MVP's. Bob Pettit (1956, 1958, 1959, 1962) is the only four-time MVP in history. This marks the fourth time there have been co-MVPs in the All-Star Game: 2000 -- Tim Duncan & Shaquille O'Neal; 1993 -- Karl Malone & John Stockton; 1959 -- Elgin Baylor & Bob Pettit.

Shaq speaking to the media at the game had this to say...

Q. How excited are you for All-Star to be in your home city?
A. "It's great to have the game here in Phoenix. I can stay at my house and have a good time. I always enjoy playing host, too, so it'll be fun."

Q. Your 15 All-Star selections are the second most in league history, what does that mean to you?
A. "I've just been lucky and blessed to be able to attend them, and play with the guys that I grew up watching. It's an honor to be named to that many All-Star games. I've seen three phases of the All-Star Game. I can remember coming in and seeing the greats like (Charles) Barkley and Mike (Michael Jordan) and Dominique (Wilkins) and then seeing the emergence of Kobe (Bryant) and AI (Allen Iverson) and all those guys. Now I'll get to play with D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) and LeBron (James). When I came into the league I was a young ninja, but now I'm the Shogun as one of the more veteran guys in the league."

Q. What is your favorite part of All-Star weekend?
A. "All of them have been great memories for me. It was fun being back on the same bench with Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant again."