All Star Game: Kobe Out, AI Out, D. Lee In

[King Taharqa]

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sources: Kidd, Lee to play in Dallas

By Marc Stein

ESPN.com

DALLAS -- The ankle injury that has sidelined Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant for the last three games will knock him out of Sunday's All-Star Game as well.

The NBA has lined up Jason Kidd of the hometown Dallas Mavericks to replace the ailing Bryant, sources told ESPN.com.

ESPN.com has also learned Allen Iverson won't participate (personal matters) and will be replaced by New York's David Lee.

Bryant has played through back, finger and groin ailment this season but has not been able to shake an ankle problem that forced him to miss a game through injury for the first time since late in the 2005-06 season.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Good to see David Lee finally get up in there. He's having an all star type campaign this season and didnt deserve to be snubbed.

[CarolinaPride5]

Monte Ellis deserves to get in I think. It's a bummer Kobe can't go though, it sucks for him and all the fans. But David Lee is very deserving, Kidd not as much.

[King Taharqa]

The game is in Dallas, so I think thats why Kidd got in. I agree Montae should've got a spot, but I think the Warriors shitty record hurt his chances.

[tarheelblue89]

Although it would have been nice to see Kobe play, I think it is a good for the NBA that he isn't.

He's been it for the past decade, it's time to pass the torch to LBJ/Howard/Wade/Melo.

[Kevin Greene]

Glad Kobe is going to rest for the second half. Amazing though without Bynum and Kobe the Lakers have dominated the last 3 games. Go figure.

[King Taharqa]

Glad Kobe is going to rest for the second half. Amazing though without Bynum and Kobe the Lakers have dominated the last 3 games. Go figure.

2 words. Pau Gasol. Check his stats in them 3 games and yall's record since he came to Hollywood. Even without Kobe, the Lakers would still be a playoff team. Thats why I say King is the MVP of the league, Cleveland would be a lottery team without him.

[Kevin Greene]

2 words. Pau Gasol. Check his stats in them 3 games and yall's record since he came to Hollywood. Even without Kobe, the Lakers would still be a playoff team. Thats why I say King is the MVP of the league, Cleveland would be a lottery team without him.

Lamar Odom and Shannon brown are also playing lights out.

And I don't care about MVP trophies......

[Panthers128]

if AI's not playing then i'm pretty sure that means Gerald Wallace should start. Stan Van Gundy is a crappy coach though, he might not see the obvious.