Kobe Bryant News: 'The Black Mamba' Leads In All-Star Game Voting
Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard and original franchise player Kobe Bryant is currently leading the pack in the first returns of the 2016 NBA All-Star voting.
In a Dec. 26 report by Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com, "The Black Mamba" is on top of the polls and ahead by a wide margin with 719,235 votes. Coming in at second place is 2015 Most Valuable Player awardee Stephen Curry with 510,202 votes.
Two-time NBA champion and current Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James came in at third place with 357,937 votes.
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The 37-year-old Bryant, who announced that the 2015-2016 NBA season would be his 20th and final playing year, had been receiving resounding ovations through the cities he had been playing at over the last few weeks. For Bryant's part, the recent numbers came off as a surprise, adding that the feeling of shock "does not do it justice."
He did, in turn, express his excitement over playing his 18th and final NBA All-Star game.
"It's exciting," Bryant said. "What can I say? Just thankful."
The number of his All-Star game appearances came in second to legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played in a total of 19 games. The report adds that the upcoming All-Star game would the first time for Bryant to be listed as part of the frontcourt, unlike in previous years when he was listed as part of the backcourt.
Some of his colleagues, both coaches and players alike, have expressed their agreement with the polls. For Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, Bryant's accomplishments throughout his professional career alone are enough to warrant him a spot in this year's team.
"I don't care if he's a starter of if they figure out a 13th spot for him," Rivers said. "[With] what he's done in his career, he should be on the All-Star team, and I don't see any debate in that."
The 2016 NBA All-Star game will be held in Toronto, Canada.
