CLEVELAND _ LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were both elected Thursday to start the All-Star game for the Eastern Conference. It is James' 13th appearance (all starts) while Irving has made the team for the fourth time in his six seasons.
James led all players in voting and will become the fifth player in NBA history to start at least 13 All-Star games, joining Kobe Bryant (18), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14), Bob Cousy (13) and Michael Jordan (13). Irving, meanwhile, won the All-Star MVP award in 2014.
James acknowledged it means more to be the top vote getter yet again.
"I think from the standpoint of people enjoy the way I play the game, they respect the way I play the game and at this point in my career I'm still doing something right," James said. "Makes me proud, makes my family proud and my support system so it's cool in that sense."
The NBA changed voting procedures this season to include media and player votes for the first time. The Beacon Journal was represented on the panel of 75 media members who voted. The media's votes, however, are not made public.
Kevin Love is still a strong candidate to be added as a reserve, which would give the Cavs three representatives. Love hasn't made an All-Star team since arriving in Cleveland during the summer of 2014.
Irving and James will be joined in the East by Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chicago's Jimmy Butler and Toronto's DeMar DeRozan. The West starters will be Golden State's Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, Houston's James Harden, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans' Anthony Davis.
