Kobe Bryant ranks last in the NBA in shooting percentage this season. The Lakers forward is also last in three-point percentage. But he’s first in All-Star votes.
The NBA released its second fan voting update, and Kobe’s insane retirement-tour domination of the ballot remains strong. He leads all players with 1,262,118 votes. That’s way ahead of the next highest vote-getter, Steph Curry, with 925,789 current votes. It’s also twice the total of the next highest Western Conference forward, Kevin Durant, who has 616,096 votes.
Presenting the second returns of #NBAAllStarTO Voting presented by @Verizon! https://t.co/7SYpaqHa1f pic.twitter.com/7gIH3FhpZU
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) January 7, 2016
In the Eastern Conference, LeBron James leads with 636,388 votes. Kyrie Irving remains second among Eastern guards, despite hardly having played this season.
As for Kobe, he obviously doesn’t deserve to start the All-Star game based on the season he’s having, but if there were ever an appropriate time for a lifetime achievement award, it’s now.
Here’s what Kobe said when the first round of voting totals were announced on Christmas, according to ESPN.
“Listen, I was making a little coffee run this morning, got some gas and decided to just go on Instagram and peruse,” he said, “and [I] saw the damn votes, and I was like, ‘What the hell?’ Shocked doesn’t do it justice.”
He added, “It’s exciting. What can I say? Just thankful.”
Assuming Kobe ends up being voted to the All-Star game — and with that lead, how could he not — it will be his 18th All-Star selection and 17th in a row. He was voted to the showcase exhibition during each of the past two years despite being injured. That means 2016 could be the first year he actually plays in the game since 2013.
