Bryant honored to be an All-Star

It’s almost predictable at this point, and it happened again.

Kobe Bryant was selected to another All-Star game, the 11th of his 13-year career.

Bryant led the Western Conference with 2.91 million votes and was third overall in the NBA, behind Orlando center Dwight Howard (3.15 million votes) and Cleveland forward LeBron James (2.94 million).

The reserves for the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix, which might or might not include Lakers forward Pau Gasol, will be selected by coaches and announced next Thursday on TNT.

Bryant started slowly this season and struggled with his shot, though he is now shooting 47.2%, which would be the best shooting season of his career if it held up. He shot 46.9% in 2001-02.

He is averaging 26.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

“It’s a great honor,” Bryant said. “I’m happy to be there. Can’t wait.”

He has triple-doubles in two of his last four games, including an 18-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound effort Wednesday against the Clippers.

The All-Star MVP in 2002 and 2007 is tied for fifth with several players for career All-Star appearances, though he has a ways to go to catch the all-time leader, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a 19-time All-Star.

Bryant did not make the All-Star team as a rookie. There was no All-Star Game in 1999 because of an owners’ lockout that led to a delayed start to the season.

Bryant will be joined at the game by the Lakers’ coaching staff, which will guide the West team, but it remains to be seen if Gasol makes his second All-Star team.

Gasol will have to beat out West forwards Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas, Carmelo Anthony of Denver and David West of New Orleans. The West had five forwards in last season’s All-Star game.

Gasol, an All-Star in 2006 with Memphis, is averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a game.

“Obviously, we’re seeing all kind of lobbying from around the league as coaches try to lobby other coaches about who to vote for in the reserves,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. “We think it’s pretty obvious in our team between the acquisition of Pau Gasol and what we were prior to that. He’s created a big difference.”

Will there by any more lobbying by Jackson?

“I don’t do that and I don’t appreciate that,” Jackson said. “I think the play should stand on its own. But I think [Lakers public-relations director] John Black probably should do that.”

In terms of fan voting, Gasol was seventh among West forwards. Players who finished ahead of him included San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen, who lost his starting job earlier this season, and Houston’s Ron Artest, who has missed 12 games because of an ankle injury.

Andrew Bynum was third among West centers, finishing well behind Houston’s Yao Ming and Phoenix’s Shaquille O’Neal.

Coby’s new nation

Former Lakers guard Coby Karl signed a contract with Spanish professional team DKV Joventut. Karl, who spent last season with the Lakers, has been in the Development League since being cut by the Lakers after exhibition play ended in October.

“I think I could have had opportunities with a 10-day contract [in the NBA], but nobody was promising me more than 20 days,” Karl said. “I want to go and test out overseas.”

Karl still has one goal in mind, however.

“I definitely want to be in the NBA next season,” he said.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

2009 All-Star starters

AT PHOENIX, FEB. 15

*--* WEST EAST G Kobe Bryant (Lakers) Allen Iverson (Detroit) G Chris Paul (New Orleans) Dwyane Wade (Miami) F Tim Duncan (San Antonio) LeBron James (Cleveland) F Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix) Kevin Garnett (Boston) C Yao Ming (Houston) Dwight Howard (Orlando) *--*

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Source: NBA