Durant Leads Western Forwards in All-Star Votes

The third round of ballots has been turned in and counted as the 2011 All-Star Game draws closer.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:08 pm

By: News On 6

Durant Leads Western Forwards in All-Star Votes

Originally Published: Jan 6, 2011 3:34 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – Thunder forward Kevin Durant continues to lead all Western Conference forwards in votes for the 2011 All-Star game.

The top two vote-getters at guard and forward as well as the center receiving the most votes earn a spot in the starting lineup in the All-Star game for their respective conference.

Durant is first among forwards in the Western Conference with 945,944 votes from fans.

He is second overall in the West in votes behind Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who has 1,391,597 votes. Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets is currently on pace to start alongside Durant in the game, garnering 742,284 votes.

Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook is sixth among Western Conference guards in votes, with 327,453.

It is highly unlikely Westbrook would receive enough votes to move up into a starting position, but All-Star coaches can select their reserves despite the fact that fans select the starting lineup.

Fans can continue to vote daily online at nba.com or through paper ballots in their teams’ arenas until Jan. 23, 2011.

The 2011 NBA All-Star game takes place on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 in Los Angeles.