Bryant makes All-NBA first team for fifth time

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant earned his fifth All-NBA first team selection Thursday, with the lead squad made up entirely of Western Conference players.

Bryant, the NBA’s leading scorer the last two seasons, was second in total points with 643 and received 128 of a possible 129 first-place votes from the panel of media members.

The points leader at 645, Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash was a unanimous selection and was joined by Suns center Amare Stoudemire (494) to become the first teammates on the first team since the Lakers’ Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2004. O’Neal missed the team for the first time since 1993.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (634) and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (573) rounded out the team.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, the top vote-getter last year, dropped to the second team this season with 494 points. He was joined by Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas, Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady and center Yao Ming, and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh.

The third team was: Miami guard Dwyane Wade, Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

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San Antonio was called a “dirty team” by Phoenix’s Stoudemire, who specifically accused forward Bruce Bowen of trying to hurt him in Game 2 of their conference semifinal series.

“He kicked me purposely in the back of my Achilles’. I almost came down wrong and he almost caused an injury,” Stoudemire said. “He’s known for doing that. I just hope the NBA and the commissioner take a look at that because it’s definitely a dirty play.

“I think the Spurs are a dirty team. I mean, [guard Manu] Ginobili during the regular season kneed me in the crotch on purpose.”

The Spurs had no comment.

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Boston Coach Doc Rivers, whose contract was set to expire after next season, received an extension from the Celtics.

Terms were not disclosed.

Rivers, 45, is 102-144 in three seasons in Boston, including the NBA’s second-worst record at 24-58 this season.

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All-league

Voting for the all-NBA team (first-team votes in parentheses):

*--* Player, Team Votes FIRST TEAM F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (125) 634 F Tim Duncan, San Antonio (94) 573 C Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix (36) 494 G Steve Nash, Phoenix (129) 645 G Kobe Bryant, Lakers (128) 643 SECOND TEAM F LeBron James, Cleveland (64) 494 F Chris Bosh, Toronto (8) 234 C Yao Ming, Houston (38) 333 G Gilbert Arenas, Washington 295 G Tracy McGrady, Houston (10) 278 THIRD TEAM F Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (5) 225 F Carmelo Anthony, Denver (1) 142 C Dwight Howard, Orlando (1) 108 G Dwyane Wade, Miami (1) 241 G Chauncey Billups, Detroit 86

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