LOS ANGELES — The 2011 NBA All-Star Ballot was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Los Angeles, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2011. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile will begin this afternoon at 3 p.m. ET. The 60th NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011.
To the surprise of no one, the Spurs’ Big Three – Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili – will once again be given the opportunity to represent the San Antonio Spurs at an NBA All-Star game.
Duncan, named an All-Star every year of his Hall of Fame 12-year career, is vying for his thirteenth All-Star selection and is also looking to extend his consecutive start streak to twelve – the latter being something only Kobe Bryant can best with a start this year.
Tony Parker is looking to make his fourth All-Star game appearance in 10 years, his last coming during the 2008-09 campaign, and Manu Ginobili looks to return to the NBA’s prime-time and crown jewel event for the first time since 2005 – a notion seeming almost as laughable as the fact that this would only be the second All-Star game of Ginobili’s 9-year career.
With the NBA releasing their final All-Star ballot before Thanksgiving, before more than 10 games have been played for most, Richard Jefferson’s absence is understandable even if not warranted. Both DeJuan Blair and George Hill have struggled early on, Tiago Splitter has yet to entrench himself into the Spurs’ rotation and Antonio McDyess’ superb early-season play can’t exactly be considered Millsapian – the Utah forward who was inconceivably snubbed.
So there it is. The Big Three are on the ballot; and no one else. But if we’ve learned anything from politics recently or historically, know this: write-ins are allowed and it’s important you get the dead vote out.
Vote early, vote often, vote HERE!
Do it to it, Spurs fans.
Follow Nick Kapsis @Project_Kap
