Tracy McGrady knows good and well why he's in the running to make his seventh All-Star Game start despite playing just 45 minutes this season.
"Well, 90 percent is all my Chinese fans," T-Mac said, laughing. "We have a great relationship. That started when I was in Orlando. I used to go over there [China] every summer. Those are great fans. I enjoy my time over there, and I've gotten to know them throughout the years. It's been great. They've been very supportive through the good, the bad and the ugly. I appreciate them still sticking with me."
The league and the members of the All-Star ballot committee also stood by McGrady. Unlike his injured teammate Yao Ming, who may be a smidge more popular in China, T-Mac was included on the ballot despite having microfracture surgery on his left knee in late February. That procedure typically takes a full year to recover, but McGrady returned earlier this month.
McGrady did slip from second to third among Western Conference guards in the latest balloting returns released today. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers continues to lead that race and is the overall vote pacesetter with 1,380,383 million ballots cast. (See the complete totals in the official release.)
The All-Star Game is headed to the Dallas Cowboys new stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 14 before a record crowd possibly hitting 100,000 -- a figure that both Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones are shooting for. The All-Star Game is being broadcast live on TNT and ESPN Radio domestically, and to more than 200 countries abroad.
Right behind Bryant in the overall popularity department is LeBron James. The Cavaliers' two-time All-Star MVP is leading the Eastern Conference with 1,351,292 votes. The only other players with more than a million votes are Carmelo Antony (Nuggets), Dwayne Wade (Heat), Dwight Howard (Magic) and Kevin Garnett (Celtics).
The biggest surprise is in the East, as Allen Iverson has surged in the guard race. Originally on the West ballot, Iverson has gone from sixth place in the first returns two weeks ago to a starting slot opposite Wade. Vince Carter (Magic) has dropped from second to third.
The rest of the East start lineup, as of now, includes James and Garnett at forward, and Howard at center. The West consists of Bryant and Steve Nash (Suns) in the backcourt, Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) at forwards, and Amar'e Stoudemire (Suns) in the middle.
McGrady is perhaps relieved by the league's assist leader moving into second. He isn't too keen on taking a spot in the All-Star Game if he finished with starter's votes.
"No, I don't think I'd play," McGrady said. "I would attend, just to show my appreciation and my thanks to my fans. But you have guys like Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, guys who have been playing since Day 1 and are very deserving of being out there. I don't know which ones will start, but all three of them can. I think they're very deserving."
McGrady and Nash each have more than 500,000 votes and are separated by less than 5,000. The only other guard currently with at least a half-million is Paul of the Hornets. T-Mac added that stepping aside, if he's in position to start, is the only right thing to do by his fellow players.
"Yes, that's all it boils down to -- respecting my peers and knowing what's right," McGrady said. "Thanks to my fans, but at the same time I respect the guys who should be on that team."
Updated balloting results will be issued regularly leading up the announcement of the All-Star starters Jan. 21 on TNT. After the starters are determined, the head coaches will vote on the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference. That announcement is Jan. 28 on TNT.
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