Jordan Leads All-Star Vote Fifth Straight Year

Chicago’s Michael Jordan was the leading vote-getter for the fifth straight year in balloting for the NBA All-Star team, the league announced today.

Jordan, the league’s leading scorer with a 31.1 average, received 1,217,429 votes to earn his seventh consecutive All-Star berth. His 20.6 scoring average in All-Star competition is the second-highest in NBA history.

Joining Jordan in the starting lineup for the Eastern Conference will be guard Isiah Thomas of Detroit, center Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks and forwards Charles Barkley of Philadelphia and Larry Bird of Boston.

San Antonio center David Robinson, last year’s top rookie, was the leading vote-getter in the Western Conference with 695,519.

He will be joined in the starting lineup by guards Magic Johnson of the Lakers and Kevin Johnson of Phoenix and forwards Karl Malone of Utah and Chris Mullin of Golden State.

The remaining All-Stars will be chosen by a vote of the coaches in each conference. The results will be announced next week.

Magic Johnson and Bird each made the team for the 11th time, while Thomas will be making his 10th All-Star appearance. Bird is currently sidelined with a back injury.

The West will be coached by Rick Adelman of Portland, while the East will be coached by Boston’s Chris Ford. They were selected because their teams have the best records in their conferences.

The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 10 in Charlotte, N.C.