Kobe Bryant is to play in his 18th NBA All-Star game after topping the fan poll to start in the game.
Western Conference All-Star Starter @KobeBryant of the @Lakers! #NBAAllStarTO pic.twitter.com/wYFyvZiIr5
— 2016 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 22, 2016
The players who feature in the All-Star game are voted upon by the public and Bryant topped the poll in his last season as a professional. He announced he was to retire at the end of the season in November.
Bryant was the overall leading @NBAAllStar vote-getter for the fourth time in his career (2003, 2011, 2013 and 2016)
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2016
Bryant was picked as an All-Star in every year since 2000, but has not played in the game since 2013 due to injury. Only Kareen Abdul-Jabbar has won more NBA All-Star awards than the 37-year-old. The former LA Lakers star won 19 awards beating Bryant by one.
The Western Conference team features Bryant, along with NBA MVP Steph Curry. Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard complete the team.
LeBron James makes his 12th appearance in the game. He will lead the Eastern Conference team, with Kyle Lowry, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George also named as starters.
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