Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James led updated fan voting totals announced on Thursday that will eventually decide starters for next month’s 64th NBA All-Star Game, though he is expected to miss the next two weeks of the NBA season with a strained left knee and lower back, the team announced.
Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who has missed Cleveland’s past two games with a sore left knee, is averaging 25.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists a game. He had his 30th birthday on Tuesday.
James owns the top spot with 775,810 votes, while Golden State’s Stephen Curry is second on 755,486 in balloting for berths in the elite showdown set for New York on Feb. 15.
Voting ends on Jan. 19 and the results is to be announced by the league three days later.
James was evaluated by team doctor Richard Parker on Wednesday at the Cleveland Clinic and subjected James to a physical, radiograph and MRI exam that uncovered the extent of his injuries.
The Cavaliers said James will address his injuries with anti-inflammatories, rehabilitation, training room treatments and rest.
Barring a surprise early return, James will miss seven games for the Cavaliers, but it could set the stage for him to return on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 in Los Angeles, when the Cavaliers are to play the Lakers and the Clippers on consecutive nights.
James is joined in the Eastern Conference forward line by Chicago’s Spanish big man Pau Gasol, who has 372,109 votes, and New York star Carmelo Anthony, who has 365,449 votes despite the Knicks’ awful 5-29 record.
Miami’s Chris Bosh is the nearest player chasing an East forward starting spot in fourth place at 283,899.
Washington Wizards standout John Wall leads Eastern Conference guards with 439,395 votes and Miami veteran Dwyane Wade holds the other backcourt spot on 396,757. Australian Kyrie Irving of Cleveland ranks third, 88,030 votes behind Wade.
Curry is joined in the Western Conference backcourt voting leaders by Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers with 694,665. Houston’s James Harden, the NBA scoring leader, ranks third on 516,514.
The West frontline vote leaders feature Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans with 732,154, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers with 403,415 and Memphis big man Marc Gasol, Pau’s brother, with 343,587.
San Antonio’s Tim Duncan ranks fourth among West forward on 288,235 with 2013-2014 NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant, who has missed all but 10 games for Oklahoma City this season, was fifth with 254,448.
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