Iverson Reaches 20,000 pts Milestone as Nuggets Defeat Sonics

An equipment manager informed Allen Iverson that he was going to deflate the game ball and stuff it into the star guard's bag to commemorate his 20,000th NBA point.

"Thanks, buddy. Appreciate that, buddy,'' Iverson said late Tuesday night, using his nickname for the many folks he doesn't yet know after four weeks with the Denver Nuggets.

"Just get me a ball for every win. That's all I want a ball for.''

Act II of the Iverson-Carmelo Anthony experiment showed there might be many of those in store for Denver.

A "rusty'' Anthony scored 34 points in his second game back from suspension, Iverson added 21 and the Nuggets used two crucial 3-pointers from previously quiet Steve Blake to beat the Seattle SuperSonics 117-112 on Tuesday night.

It was Denver's fifth consecutive win, and second in two nights with its two superstars together at last.

"It's dangerous,'' Seattle's Damien Wilkins said.

Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer at 31.5 points per game entering Tuesday, scored 30 for the fourth time in five games spanning his just-completed 15-game suspension for fighting during a December melee in New York.

"Having fun again,'' Anthony said after denying Seattle its fourth consecutive victory. "I'm a little rusty, trying to work that off.''

Anthony had 28 points against Memphis in his first game back Monday, then shot 12-for-26 on Tuesday - when Iverson became the 30th NBA player to reach 20,000 points.

"I'm a long way from that, bro,'' said Anthony, who has 6,163 career points.

Ray Allen scored 44 points - 22 in a frantic final period - and Chris Wilcox added 25 for Seattle. Allen broke a tie at 101 with his third 3-pointer of the final period, a fallaway 27-footer with 3:45 remaining. He was 1-for-9 from long range entering the fourth quarter but finished 6-for-17.

Allen's missed 3-pointer in the last 20 seconds denied the Sonics their final chance at a wild win. He also lost track of Blake twice in the final 2:23.

Blake, whom Allen left open because he was 0-for-4 to that point, swished a 3 to tie the game for the final time at 106. Denver went back ahead on two free throws from Nene, then Blake upped the lead to 111-106 with another 3 with 1:28 left.

"We were trying to keep Allen (Iverson) from getting to the paint and we were trying to keep Carmelo double-teamed,'' Allen said, summarizing the Denver dilemma that the entire NBA now faces. "So (Blake) was the one guy out there that we wanted to shoot the ball.''

As Seattle coach Bob Hill said, "There was a reason he was open. But we didn't want him to be that open.''

Blake came to Denver in a trade from Milwaukee on Jan. 11 for Earl Boykins and Julius Hodge. But he's not so new that he doesn't realize that next to Anthony and Iverson, no one except his wife is going to give Blake more than a glance.

"I know I am going to get open shots because of them,'' Blake said. "At the same time, I'm still going to try to get them the ball as much as I can.''

Iverson had just six points on 3-for-10 shooting in the first half, which ended with Denver down 60-53. He seemed in danger of falling short of his season low of 16 points.

But he made his first three shots after halftime - including a leaning, baseline prayer on which he was hoping to draw a foul that never came. Iverson followed that with a 3-pointer over Seattle's zone defense that gave the Nuggets their first lead, 63-62, four minutes into the second half.

Then Anthony joined in. His answer to the zone was a snazzy stutter-step and crossover dribble past a stupefied Luke Ridnour for a driving layup. That was the best of Denver's 10-0 run, which put the Nuggets up 77-70.

Anthony had 10 points in the third quarter, allowing Denver to maintain its seven-point lead entering the final period. Then Allen went wild.

Seattle's franchise player scored 11 of his team's first 12 points in the quarter to bring the Sonics back to 92-89. Seattle then tied the score at 99 on Wilcox's thunderous dunk with 5:10 left - before Blake rallied Denver.

Allen had 18 points in the first half, including a fadeaway 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that left him hopping off the court and the KeyArena crowd roaring.

Iverson Reaches 20,000-Point Plateau

Allen Iverson's driving layup with 2:04 left in the second quarter of the Nuggets' 117-112 win at the Sonics on Jan. 23, 2007 made him the 30th NBA player to reach the 20,000-point plateau. He finished the game with 21 points and 10 assists. His 28.1 career scoring average ranks behind just Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time list.
Iverson is one of just three active players in the club, joining a pair of Heat: Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton. The Nets' Clifford Robinson (19,471 career points) is the only other current player with a realistic chance to join their elite company this season.

Now in his 11th season, Iverson needed just 713 regular-season games to score his 20,015 points - that's the sixth fewest of those 30 players. Only Chamberlain, Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Elgin Baylor accomplished the feat faster.

Quickest to 20,000 Points
Player Games : Average : Overall Rank
1 Wilt Chamberlain 499 : 40.1 : 4
2 Michael Jordan 620 : 32.3 : 3
3 Oscar Robertson 671 : 29.8 : 8
4 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 684 : 29.2 : 1
5 Elgin Baylor 711 : 28.1 : 19
6 Allen Iverson : 713 28.1 30

The Complete 20,000-Point Club

Player Years Games Points Average
1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20 1560 38,387 24.6
2 Karl Malone 19 1476 36,928 25.0
3 Michael Jordan 15 1072 32,292 30.1
4 Wilt Chamberlain 14 1045 31,419 30.1
5 Moses Malone 19 1329 27,409 20.6
6 Elvin Hayes 16 1303 27,313 21.0
7 Hakeem Olajuwon 18 1238 26,946 21.8
8 Oscar Robertson 14 1040 26,710 25.7
9 Dominique Wilkins 15 1074 26,668 24.8
10 John Havlicek 16 1270 26,395 20.8
11 Alex English 15 1193 25,613 21.5
12 Reggie Miller 18 1389 25,279 18.2
13 Jerry West 14 932 25,192 27.0
14 Shaquille O'Neal 15 945 24,820 26.3
15 Patrick Ewing 17 1183 24,815 21.0
16 Charles Barkley 16 1073 23,757 22.1
17 Robert Parish 21 1611 23,334 14.5
18 Adrian Dantley 15 955 23,177 24.3
19 Elgin Bayl Clide 755

Videos: Watch Allen Iverson's 20,000th Point
Videos: Allen Iverson's Scoring Milestones
Videos: Allen Iverson's Career Highlights
Videos: Allen Iverson's Top 10 Moments as a Sixer
Videos: Iverson - Anthony Tandem win again in Seattle

Iverson six points more to becoming the 30th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points.

Allen Iverson raced downcourt and floated an alley-oop lob that Carmelo Anthony shoved one-handed through the hoop for an arena-rattling jam, one that seemed to holler to all their doubters, "Take that!''

"We just wanted to show the whole world we could play together,'' Anthony said after the duo's triumphant debut Monday night. "We know there's a lot of doubt about that.''

Anthony scored 28 points in his return from a 15-game suspension for fighting and Iverson added 23 in the Denver Nuggets' 115-98 rout of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The two are out to prove two superstars can coexist.

So far, so very, very good.

Their pairing not only benefited each other but created open looks for everybody else. Their signature moment came with 6:39 left when Anthony soared for the alley-oop dunk that made it 103-82.

"I wanted to throw it up high so he could make SportsCenter,'' Iverson cracked. "No, it was a bad pass, honestly. He just showed what type of athlete he is, he went up there and got it.''

Anthony said he didn't even think he could reach it.

"No, I think it was my adrenalin pumping,'' he said.

After the basket, Iverson sauntered back downcourt, holding his right hand to his ear as the crowd roared.

"That's what it's all about. It's about the kids, and about the fans that love the game and the excitement of the greatest game in the world,'' Iverson said. "I'm enjoying myself. I know it's my 11th season, but this is a fresh start for me, and it feels like my first. I am having a great time and I love my situation here.''

After receiving a resounding ovation during introductions, Anthony took the microphone and thanked fans, teammates and Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke for supporting him during his 36-day layoff.

"It's like a new beginning for us,'' Anthony said. "And we're going to give y'all something to cheer for.''

The Nuggets delivered, jumping out to a 20-point first-quarter lead, never trailing and turning it on in the fourth quarter.

"They play well together,'' said Pau Gasol, who led Memphis with 23 points. "They had a chemistry from the first moment. They have fun together and help each other out. I'm interested to see how they play together the rest of the year. They will be a very dangerous couple.

"It's tough to have to guard one of them. It's worse to have to worry about two great players.''

More than five weeks after clocking the New York Knicks' Mardy Collins in a melee at Madison Square Garden that led to 10 ejections and seven suspensions, Anthony returned to a Denver lineup he hardly recognized.

On the day after NBA commissioner David Stern banned Anthony for 15 games, the Nuggets acquired Iverson, a seven-time All-Star, from the Philadelphia 76ers.

That begged the question: Was there enough room in this town for two superstars who are used to having the ball in their hands when victory is in their grasp?

Anthony came in with a league-leading 31.6-point average with Iverson third at 29.5.

Iverson swears he's had his fill of carrying the load during his 11 NBA seasons and is eager to serve as wingman to the 22-year-old Anthony - and he showed it the first chance he got.

With 7:30 left in the first quarter, Iverson had a breakaway for an easy basket but flipped the ball instead to Anthony running alongside him for a finger-roll that rocked the Pepsi Center, the first of many big moments for them.

Anthony's biggest ovation came when he took a seat with 4:11 left after totaling 28 points, five rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes.

Marcus Camby had 17 points and 17 boards and J.R. Smith scored 19 points for the energized Nuggets, who raced to a 38-18 lead after one quarter and led 59-47 at the half.

The Nuggets, who went 7-8 during Anthony's absence, parted with Andre Miller to get Iverson, then dealt Earl Boykins to Milwaukee for Steve Blake, a pass-first point guard, perfect for the new dynamite duo.

Anthony said in an open letter of apology to fans and the team on Sunday that he'll return a better player and a better person. He also returned to a lineup that looked little like the one he last saw on Dec. 16, when he struck Collins for collaring Smith on the way to the basket.

Anthony made all his baskets on drives and jams, missing all eight of his jump shots.

"It shows what an incredible work ethic he has,'' Grizzlies coach Tony Barone said. "Coming onto the court and what does he do to try to win the game? He tries to go to the offensive glass, he runs the court and finished the break and does tries to be a pig. To me that's the mark of a good player.

"They will be a very good team as the season progresses with Allen, who was very unselfish tonight.''

Iverson said he's out for much more than just showing the world he and Anthony can get along without butting heads.

"If I didn't feel like I could win a championship, I would retire,'' Iverson insisted. "If I didn't think we had a shot to win it, then I would hang my sneakers up. Obviously, I believe we can win it. Get us in a seven-game series, and you have to beat us four times.''

And with Anthony by his side, he likes his chances.

Notes: Iverson is six points shy of becoming the 30th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. ... Smith is averaging 17.5 points in the last four games, all as a reserve.

Denver win 3 in a row

The Denver Nuggets have survived long enough without Carmelo Anthony. Now, they can't wait to see how their risky "experiment'' works.
Allen Iverson banked in a running 3-pointer in overtime and scored 36 points to rally Denver to a 121-113 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night in the Nuggets' final game without Anthony.
Iverson also had 10 assists, finding Steve Blake in the corner for a 3-pointer with 1:36 left in overtime.
Marcus Camby also had a basket in overtime, scored 12 points and grabbed 22 rebounds for the Nuggets, who went 7-8 in the 15 games Anthony was suspended after an incident in a Dec. 16 game against New York.
"We've survived the 15-game suspension,'' coach George Karl said. "Now, we've got a 15-game experiment before the All-Star break. And I think everyone's excited about it.''
Anthony, who was leading the NBA with 31.6 points per game before his suspension, would've returned for Saturday's game until a snowstorm postponed the Nuggets' Dec. 20 game against Phoenix. He'll be available for Monday's game against Memphis.
"Monday, I get to wake up and it's Christmas,'' Iverson said with a smile. "Obviously, it's going to be a fun day.''
The four-time scoring champion and seven-time All-Star wanted to leave Philadelphia and play for a contender. With Anthony and J.R. Smith back from suspensions, the newly acquired Blake contributing already and Camby playing well, Iverson thinks the Nuggets can make a deep playoff run.
"For me, at this stage of my career, it's just championships. That's all I think about,'' Iverson said. "Regardless of where we're seeded, we get in a seven-game series with somebody, it's going to be hard for somebody to beat us four times.''
Smith, who was suspended 10 games for his role in the New York incident, scored 24 for Denver. He hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after the Rockets had taken a 90-77 lead.
Blake, acquired a week ago in a trade with Milwaukee, had 12 points, four assists and five rebounds.
"'Melo will add a different dimension to our team and take us to another level,'' Blake said. "It's about time. We are glad he's coming back.''
With Anthony returning, it's up to Karl to figure out how all the pieces fit together.
"We have 15 games before the All-Star break,'' Karl said. "I have a very good feeling that toward the end of those 15 games, you're going to see us playing pretty special basketball.''
The Rockets had won their previous eight home games this season when they reach 100 points.
But Iverson was fouled on a 3-pointer with 2:37 left and hit all three free throws to pull the Nuggets to within 108-103. Camby scored before Iverson swished a 3-pointer from the wing with 1:02 to go to tie the game.
Iverson and Tracy McGrady both missed potential game winners in the final minute. The Nuggets had a chance to win it in the closing seconds of regulation, but Camby missed an unlikely 3-pointer at the buzzer. Camby is 0-for-2 from 3-point range this season.
Both teams struggled at the start of overtime, but Iverson scooped up a loose ball near midcourt, ran to the 3-point line and banked in a 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired to give Denver the lead for good.
"That was a momentum shot,'' Iverson said. "A lot of times, you want to hit that first basket to see how the other teams respond.''
McGrady scored 24 and Juwan Howard added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who've lost three in a row since winning nine of their previous 10.
"We need to get back to doing what got us playing well the last couple of weeks, when we went on that great winning streak,'' McGrady said. "It was just a game where, if we wanted to play like this, we should have stayed at home.''
The Rockets lead the league in scoring defense, but they've allowed at least 100 points in their last four games.
"The last four games defensively, we're not willing to do what it takes to win,'' said Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy. "We got exactly what we deserved. They got what they deserved because they worked. And we got what we deserved because we didn't.''
Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who dropped to 9-5 since Yao Ming broke a bone under his right knee.
The Nuggets are 6-8 since acquiring Iverson on Dec. 22. Despite the absence of Anthony - and thanks mostly to Iverson - Denver is still in second place in the Northwest Division.
Iverson had eight points in the first quarter, but the Nuggets trailed 31-25. He came out for a short rest early in the second quarter and Rafer Alston, the man he was guarding, promptly sank back-to-back 3-pointers to push Houston's lead past 10.
Denver trailed 46-33 when Iverson returned with 7:53 left in the half. He was 5-of-6 in the second quarter and had 20 points at the break, but the Rockets led 58-53.
The Rockets led by 13 early in the fourth quarter, but went 11-for-30 in the period to lose for only the fourth time in 43 home games under Van Gundy when they hit 100 points.

A Letter From Carmelo Anthony

Nuggets forward addresses his fans and teammates prior to his return
Dear Nuggets Fans, Teammates, Stan Kroenke & the Nuggets Organization:The day is finally here. It has been a very long wait for my first game back. Before the game tomorrow, I wanted to take the time to thank all of you for your support of our team and your support of me. I greatly appreciate the emails and letters from those of you who wrote to me expressing your support. I also wanted to let you know how excited I am to get back on the court and play with my new and old teammates. I have been going crazy for 36 days waiting to return. All my life playing basketball has come easy to me, but not being able to play has been the most difficult thing I have ever experienced as a player.
I've spent this time off working on my game and reflecting on who I am. And who I want to be. I want all of you to know that I plan to be better, stronger and smarter on the court than I've ever been before. I've never been more dedicated to becoming the best player and teammate that I can be. It has been very tough watching the team play without me, knowing that my mistake has made it very difficult for my teammates, the franchise and the fans. I've spent the time working extremely hard, and I plan to come back better than ever.
I've also spent time thinking about the huge responsibilities I have as the captain of the Denver Nuggets, the captain of Team USA, a face of the NBA, and a role model to young people. I'm aware that a great deal is expected of me, and not just as a player. I'm expected to make the right decisions, lead by example and to be a professional.
Once again THANK YOU for your support. I hope to express my appreciation by continuing to develop as a player and as a person. I can't wait to get out there and show everyone what the Denver Nuggets are capable of. I'll see you at the Pepsi Center on Monday night. I'll be the first one there.
Sincerely,
MELO

Iverson, Anthony Among NBA’s Most Popular Jerseys

Iverson, Anthony Among NBA’s Most Popular Jerseys

The duo rank fourth and fifth in sales at the official NBA Store and on NBAStore.com

Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets rank fourth and fifth on the NBA's Most Popular Jersey List. The rankings are based on jersey sales at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City and NBAStore.com since the start of the 2006-07 NBA season through Dec. 31, 2006. Following the Dec. 19 trade to the Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson moved up three spots on the list from his No. 7 rank before the trade.

The Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers ranks as the most popular jersey in the NBA, moving up three spots from the end of last season. Bryant, who had the most popular jersey during the 2002-03 season, regained the lead from Miami's Dwyane Wade who held the top spot since May 2005. Wade drops to No. 2 on the list and Cleveland’s LeBron James comes in at No. 3, followed by Iverson and Anthony rounding out the top five in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Iverson and Anthony join Miami's Wade and Shaquille O'Neal as the only teammates to appear in this year's Top 15. O'Neal ranks ninth, while Wade sits at No. 2.

The Los Angeles Lakers remained No. 1 on the league’s Most Popular Team Merchandise List for the fifth consecutive season, while the NBA Champion Miami Heat moved up one spot to second. The New York Knicks rank third and the Chicago Bulls are fourth. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the largest jump on the list this year, moving up to No. 5 from No. 8 last year. The Denver Nuggets currently rank seventh overall.

The Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas and 2006 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year Chris Paul from the New Orleans/OK City Hornets make their debut in the Top 15, coming in at No. 8 and No. 14, respectively.

The NBA Store had its strongest sales quarter in history in the fourth quarter of 2006 including the best November sales ever and the largest single sales month ever during December 2006. This season marks the first with adidas as the official on-court uniform and apparel provider for the NBA.

The NBA’s Most Popular Jersey List and the Most Popular Team Merchandise List are listed below:

TOP 15 PLAYERS
1. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
2. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
3. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets
5. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
6. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
7. Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets
8. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards
9. Shaquille O’Neal – Miami Heat
10. Stephon Marbury – New York Knicks
11. Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
12. Tracy McGrady – Houston Rockets
13. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
14. Chris Paul – New Orleans/OK City Hornets
15. Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs

TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Miami Heat
3. New York Knicks
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Boston Celtics
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. New Jersey Nets
10. San Antonio Spurs

2007 NBA All-Star Balloting Fourth Returns

2007 NBA All-Star Balloting Fourth Returns

Allen Iverson third among guards, Carmelo Anthony fourth among forwards, Marcus Camby fifth among centers

Click Here to Cast Your Ballot

In the fourth and final update before the All-Star starters are announced on Jan. 25, Nuggets guard Allen Iverson ranks third among Western Conference guards, while Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony ranks fourth among Western Conference forwards and Nuggets center Marcus Camby ranks fifth among Western Conference centers returns of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. So far Anthony and Camby have received 870,465 votes and 201,177 votes, respectively. Iverson, who was acquired by the Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 19, has received 1,300,248 votes as a member of both the Eastern and Western Conferences. His Eastern Conference votes will be applied to the conference in which he now plays.

The 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program continues through Jan. 15 for paper balloting and Jan. 21 for online balloting. The 2007 All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday Jan. 25 prior to a TNT doubleheader. Following the completion of fan voting and the starting line-up announcement, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Thursday, Feb. 1 prior to a TNT doubleheader.

Through the 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program, NBA fans worldwide are responsible for voting in the starters for the 56th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 18. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Tight races for starting spots exist in both conferences. Nuggets guard Iverson trails the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (1,331,511) by 31,263 votes among Western Conference guards. In the East, the Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh (684,620) and the Indiana Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal (621,476) are separated by just 63,144 votes for a starting forward position.

Yao leads all players with 1,775,413 votes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 1,068,168 votes, followed by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (1,025,812). The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (1,536,556) and McGrady lead all Western Conference guards. James leads all Eastern Conference players with 1,774,281 votes, followed by the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (1,371,850). Bosh is second among Eastern Conference forwards. The New Jersey Nets’ Vince Carter (1,002,709) is second to Wade among Eastern Conference guards. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference centers with 1,143,904 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (978,007).

Fans have the opportunity to vote at all NBA arenas, in 20 languages on NBA.com, on AOL.com/nba, at 1,250 T-Mobile-owned retail locations and at t-zones using T-Mobile service or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. Fans will be able to vote at several locations in Las Vegas, the host city of NBA All-Star 2007, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fremont Street and the Thomas & Mack Center. For the first time, 13 NBA team arenas will also carry a Spanish-language version of the ballot. T-Mobile is the presenting partner of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program. This year’s other All-Star Balloting partners include 2K Sports, AOL.com, XBOX, GameStop & EB Games.

NBA All-Star 2007 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the chance to live out their Las Vegas hoop dreams by entering the Official Balloting NBA 2K7 All-Star Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2007 and play 2K Sports NBA 2K7 on XBOX 360 against an NBA player. In addition, T-Mobile will promote their Fave 5 Sweepstakes by offering fans a chance to bring their favorite five friends to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the fourth and final returns of the 2007 NBA All-Star voting program are below:

2007 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) 1,068,168; Tim Duncan (San Antonio) 1,025,812; Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) 884,160; Carmelo Anthony (Denver) 870,465; Shane Battier (Houston) 640,238; Shawn Marion (Phoenix) 332,106; Lamar Odom (L.A. Lakers) 311,845; Josh Howard (Dallas) 288,539; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 251,889; Pau Gasol (Memphis) 237,828.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) 1,536,556; Tracy McGrady (Houston) 1,331,511; Allen Iverson (Denver) 1,300,248*; Steve Nash (Phoenix) 992,885; Manu Ginobili (San Antonio) 376,185; Tony Parker (San Antonio) 350,257; Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 316,142; Jason Terry (Dallas) 306,123; Ray Allen (Seattle) 267,253; Jerry Stackhouse (Dallas) 252,254.

Centers: Yao Ming (Houston) 1,775,413; Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix) 727,298; Erick Dampier (Dallas) 283,103; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 232,174; Marcus Camby (Denver) 201,177; Francisco Elson (San Antonio) 171,180; Brad Miller (Sacramento) 109,715; Chris Kaman (L.A. Clippers) 107,065; Tyson Chandler (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 98,541; Chris Mihm (L.A. Lakers) 97,636.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Cleveland) 1,774,281; Chris Bosh (Toronto) 684,620; Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana) 621,476; Grant Hill (Orlando) 455,018; Paul Pierce (Boston) 442,393; Rasheed Wallace (Detroit) 358,998; Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia) 316,491; Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) 252,295; Hedo Turkoglu (Orlando) 236,846; Emeka Okafor (Charlotte) 234,542.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Miami) 1,371,850; Vince Carter (New Jersey) 1,002,709; Gilbert Arenas (Washington) 788,249; Jason Kidd (New Jersey) 573,104; Stephon Marbury (New York) 383,204; Chauncey Billups (Detroit) 298,770; Michael Redd (Milwaukee) 233,038; Steve Francis (New York) 201,736; Joe Johnson (Atlanta) 198,918; Ben Gordon (Chicago) 177,866.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Miami) 1,143,904; Dwight Howard (Orlando) 978,007; Ben Wallace (Chicago) 519,871; Alonzo Mourning (Miami) 205,832; Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta) 165,178; Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee) 146,027; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleveland) 123,176; Nazr Mohammed (Detroit) 119,888; Eddy Curry (New York) 113,133; Nenad Krstic (New Jersey) 92,832.

4th Returns: Allen Iverson trails 31,000 votes with Tracy McGrady on guard starter for the NBA AllStar 2007

Lets vote more on Allen Iverson in order for him to become a starter on this coming AllStar in Las Vegas.

Tight races for starting spots exist in both conferences. The Denver Nuggets’ Allen Iverson (1,300,248) trails the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (1,331,511) by 31,263 votes among Western Conference guards. In the East, the Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh (684,620) and the Indiana Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal (621,476) are separated by just 63,144 votes for a starting forward position.

fourth and final update before the All-Star starters are announced on Jan. 25, Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets leads the Western Conference and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers leads the Eastern Conference in returns of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile.

The 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program continues through Jan. 15 for paper balloting and Jan. 21 for online balloting. The 2007 All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday Jan. 25 prior to a TNT doubleheader. Following the completion of fan voting and the starting line-up announcement, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Thursday, Feb. 1 prior to a TNT doubleheader.

Through the 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program, NBA fans worldwide are responsible for voting in the starters for the 56th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 18. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.


Yao leads all players with 1,775,413 votes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 1,068,168 votes, followed by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (1,025,812). The Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant(1,536,556) and McGrady lead all Western Conference guards. James leads all Eastern Conference players with 1,774,281 votes, followed by the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (1,371,850). Bosh is second among Eastern Conference forwards. The New Jersey Nets’ Vince Carter (1,002,709) is second to Wade among Eastern Conference guards. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference centers with 1,143,904 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (978,007).

Fans have the opportunity to vote at all NBA arenas, in 20 languages on NBA.com, on AOL.com/nba, at 1,250 T-Mobile-owned retail locations and at t-zones using T-Mobile service or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. Fans will be able to vote at several locations in Las Vegas, the host city of NBA All-Star 2007, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fremont Street and the Thomas & Mack Center. For the first time, 13 NBA team arenas will also carry a Spanish-language version of the ballot. T-Mobile is the presenting partner of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program. This year’s other All-Star Balloting partners include 2K Sports, AOL.com, XBOX, GameStop & EB Games.

NBA All-Star 2007 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the chance to live out their Las Vegas hoop dreams by entering the Official Balloting NBA 2K7 All-Star Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2007 and play 2K Sports NBA 2K7 on XBOX 360 against an NBA player. In addition, T-Mobile will promote their Fave 5 Sweepstakes by offering fans a chance to bring their favorite five friends to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the fourth returns of the 2007 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 1,774,281; Chris Bosh (Tor) 684,620; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 621,476; Grant Hill (Orl) 455,018; Paul Pierce (Bos) 442,393; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 358,998; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 316,491; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 252, 295; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 236,846; Emeka Okafor (Char) 234,542;

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,371,850; Vince Carter (NJ) 1,002,709; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 788,249; Jason Kidd (NJ) 573,104; Stephon Marbury (NY) 383,204; Chauncey Billups (Det) 298,770; Michael Redd (Mil) 233,038; Steve Francis (NY) 201,736; Joe Johnson (Atl) 198,918; Ben Gordon (Chi) 177,866.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 1,143,904; Dwight Howard (Orl) 978,007; Ben Wallace (Chi) 519,871; Alonzo Mourning (Mia) 205,832; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 165,178; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 146,027; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 123,176; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 119,888; Eddy Curry (NY) 113,133; Nenad Krstic (NJ) 92,832.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minn) 1,068,168; Tim Duncan (SA) 1,025,812; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 884,160; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 870,465; Shane Battier (Hou) 640,238; Shawn Marion (Pho) 332,106; Lamar Odom (LAL) 311,845; Josh Howard (Dal) 288,539; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 251,889; Pau Gasol (Mem) 237,828.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,536,556; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,331,511; Allen Iverson (Den) 1,300,248*; Steve Nash (Pho) 992,885; Manu Ginobili (SA) 376,185; Tony Parker (SA) 350,257; Chris Paul (NOK) 316,142; Jason Terry (Dal) 306,123; Ray Allen (Sea) 267,253; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 252,254.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,775,413; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 727,298; Erick Dampier (Dal) 283,103; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 232,174; Marcus Camby (Den) 201,177; Francisco Elson (SA) 171,180; Brad Miller (Sac) 109,715; Chris Kaman (LAC) 107,065; Tyson Chandler (NOK) 98,541; Chris Mihm (LAL) 97,636.

2007 Ballot Breakdown: West Guards

Vegas baby! Balloting for NBA All-Star 2007 is under way and to keep you abreast of who you might want to send to Vegas in February, NBA.com will break down all six positions -- West guards, forwards and centers, and East guards, forwards and centers -- over the coming weeks.

Today's Ballot Breakdown covers the Western Conference guards, ranked statistically (by the sum total of their scoring, rebounding and assist averages). Despite the Allen Iverson trade to Denver, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady still lead the pack after the third round of ballot returns. But A.I. is not far behind and things can certainly change, so vote daily to select the starters for the 2007 All-Star Game on Feb. 18. (Note: All statistics are through games played on Jan. 3.).

Allen Iverson, DenverAverages: 30.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 7.7 APGBreakdown: The Answer is averaging 30-plus for the third straight season and he has stepped it up with the move out West. He's shooting .473 from the field and dishing out 8.8 assists in his six games with the Nuggets. Those numbers are both higher than anything he's ever put up in his career.

Kobe Bryant, LA LakersAverages: 28.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.2 APGBreakdown: Is the Mamba the best player in the league? Well, he's the only one that can do some of the things that he does. He has already had three 50-plus games and he has kept the Lakers near the top of the West with Lamar Odom out.

Baron Davis, Golden StateAverages: 21.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 8.6 APGBreakdown: Back in October, this author put B-Diddy On the Spot. So far, he has responded by having one of the best seasons of his career, shooting a career high from the field while leading the Warriors to a solid start in the West.

Steve Nash, PhoenixAverages: 20.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 11.3 APGBreakdown: He's making a run at a third straight MVP award, leading the Suns to a 24-8 record while averaging a career-high in points and leading the league in assists once again. And if you want the All-Star game to be as entertaining as it can be, you want Steve Nash in Las Vegas.

Ray Allen, SeattleAverages: 24.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.3 APGBreakdown: Jesus Shuttlesworth missed 10 games with a bruised ankle, but he's back in the Seattle lineup and leading the team in scoring at 24.7 points per game, the second highest average of his career.

Tracy McGrady, HoustonAverages: 20.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.9 APGBreakdown: Along with Yao Ming, T-Mac has the Rockets back as one of the best teams. With Yao out for several weeks, McGrady is now carrying the load and he's led them to four straight wins.

Chris Paul, NO/Oklahoma CityAverages: 18.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 9.0 APGBreakdown: Paul is out for another few weeks with a sprained ankle, but he should be ready for All-Star Weekend, where he could possibly see action on all three nights.

Tony Parker, San AntonioAverages: 19.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.9 APGBreakdown: The Spurs are once again near the top of the standings and Parker is putting up career highs in scoring and three point percentage, while shooting an incredible (for a point guard) .530 from the field. There's no place like Vegas to get married.

Deron Williams, UtahAverages: 16.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 8.7 APGBreakdown: Leading the Jazz to one of the best records in the league has Williams right there with Paul in the discussion of the best second-year players in the league. Not so many people are questioning that No. 3 pick these days.

Kevin Martin, SacramentoAverages: 21.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 APGBreakdown: Not on the ballot, Martin may be the most deserving write-in candidate in the league and one of the leaders for the Most Improved Player award.

The Next Five

Mike Bibby, SacramentoAverages: 17.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 6.0 APG
Jason Terry, DallasAverages: 16.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.8 APG
Luke Ridnour, SeattleAverages: 14.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.4 APG
Monta Ellis, Golden State (Write-in)Averages: 17.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.1 APG
Leandro Barbosa, PhoenixAverages: 16.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.3 APG

2007 NBA All-Star Balloting Third Returns Announced

Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference, while LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat lead the Eastern Conference in votes received after the third returns of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Through the 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program, NBA fans from around the globe are responsible for voting in the starters for the 56th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 18. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Yao leads all players with 1,629,832 votes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 947,040 votes, followed by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (852,827). Bryant (1,386,477) and the Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady (1,205,510) lead all Western Conference guards. Currently in third place among Western Conference guards is Allen Iverson (1,157,031), who was acquired by the Denver Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 19. Since Iverson was traded to a Western Conference team after the All-Star ballot was unveiled, his Eastern Conference votes will be applied to the conference in which he now plays.
James leads all Eastern Conference players with 1,587,738 votes, followed by Wade (1,191,403).

The Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh (589,829) is second to James among Eastern Conference forwards. The New Jersey Nets’ Vince Carter (867,437) is second to Wade among Eastern Conference guards. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference centers with 1,013,747 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (789,950).

Fans have the opportunity to vote at all NBA arenas, in 20 languages on NBA.com, on AOL.com/nba, at 1,250 T-Mobile-owned retail locations and at t-zones using T-Mobile service or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. Fans will be able to vote at several locations in Las Vegas, the host city of NBA All-Star 2007, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fremont Street and the Thomas & Mack Center. For the first time, 13 NBA team arenas will also carry a Spanish-language version of the ballot. T-Mobile is the presenting partner of 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program. This year’s other All-Star Balloting partners include 2K Sports, AOL.com, XBOX, GameStop & EB Games.

NBA All-Star 2007 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session.

The 2007 NBA All-Star Balloting program continues through Jan. 15, 2007 for paper balloting and Jan. 21, 2007 for online balloting. Updated results for the Eastern and Western Conferences will be issued regularly leading up to the announcement of the All-Star starters on Thursday Jan. 25 prior to a TNT doubleheader. Following the completion of fan voting and the starting line-up announcement, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Thursday, Feb. 1 prior to a TNT doubleheader.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the chance to live out their Las Vegas hoop dreams by entering the Official Balloting NBA 2K7 All-Star Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2007 and play 2K Sports NBA 2K7 on XBOX 360 against an NBA player. In addition, T-Mobile will promote their Fave 5 Sweepstakes by offering fans a chance to bring their favorite five friends to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the third returns of the 2007 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Cleveland) 1,587,738; Chris Bosh (Toronto) 589,829; Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana) 531,531; Paul Pierce (Boston) 382,287; Grant Hill (Orlando) 331,931; Rasheed Wallace (Detroit) 299,296; Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia) 260,993; Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) 200,065; Emeka Okafor (Charlotte) 186,445; Chris Webber (Philadelphia) 173,572. Guards: Dwyane Wade (Miami) 1,191,403; Vince Carter (New Jersey) 867,437; Gilbert Arenas (Washington) 647,281; Jason Kidd (New Jersey) 490,622; Stephon Marbury (New York) 347,994; Chauncey Billups (Detroit) 244,236; Michael Redd (Milwaukee) 192,280; Joe Johnson (Atlanta) 160,280; Steve Francis (New York) 155,676; Richard Hamilton (Detroit) 136,946.
Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Miami) 1,013,747; Dwight Howard (Orlando) 789,950; Ben Wallace (Chicago) 451,575; Alonzo Mourning (Miami) 155,605; Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta) 103,301; Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee) 103,321; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleveland) 88,979; Nazr Mohammed (Detroit) 73,139; Eddy Curry (New York) 68,445; Nenad Krstic (New Jersey) 62,550.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) 947,040; Tim Duncan (San Antonio) 852,827; Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) 794,581; Carmelo Anthony (Denver) 769,491; Shane Battier (Houston) 539,714; Shawn Marion (Phoenix) 283,766; Lamar Odom (L.A. Lakers) 275,327; Josh Howard (Dallas) 256,409; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 217,872; Pau Gasol (Memphis) 198,075. Guards: Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) 1,386,477; Tracy McGrady (Houston) 1,205,510; Allen Iverson (Denver) 1,157,031*; Steve Nash (Phoenix) 869,645; Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 276,477; Jason Terry (Dallas) 267,698; Manu Ginobili (San Antonio) 256,362; Tony Parker (San Antonio) 242,929; Ray Allen (Seattle) 221,003; Jerry Stackhouse (Dallas) 220,385.
Centers: Yao Ming (Houston) 1,629,832; Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix) 610,444; Erick Dampier (Dallas) 246,918; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 189,778; Marcus Camby (Denver) 154,712; Brad Miller (Sacramento) 81,424; Francisco Elson (San Antonio) 71,114; Tyson Chandler (New Orleans/Oklahoma City) 69,851; Chris Mihm (L.A. Lakers) 69,840; Chris Kaman (L.A. Clippers) 67,430.