Carmelo Anthony is having an MVP-caliber season. Now, he’ll join his fellow candidates as a starter in this year’s All-Star festivities.
Anthony finished second in fan voting in the Eastern Conference to Miami forward LeBron James, maybe Anthony’s top competition as league MVP this season. Anthony received 1,460,950 votes, as compared to just over 1.5 million for James. The Knicks forward will be starting his fifth All-Star Game. It is his sixth appearance overall.
Anthony is averaging 29.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He is the leading scorer in the East and second overall behind Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (29.7 points per game).
Along with James, Anthony will start alongside Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett.
Garnett and Anthony were involved in an on-court argument last week, which carried over to after the game. Anthony reportedly tried to confront Garnett after the game outside the visiting team locker room at MSG and then at the Celtics team bus as well. He had to be restrained by security personnel.
Anthony received a one-game suspension for the incident.
The Western Conference voting was led by Bryant with 1,591,437 votes — the leading vote getter from either conference. Bryant is joined in the starting lineup by Thunder forward Kevin Durant, Clippers guard Chris Paul, Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Lakers center Dwight Howard.
Reserves will be named on Jan. 24 and the game will be held Feb. 17 in Houston.
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