Iverson thanks fans for their votes

Once the fans' votes were in yesterday, the 76ers' Allen Iverson was once again a starter on an NBA all-star team, causing some to question whether the selection method was fair.

The 34-year-old Iverson, who is in his 14th season in the league, was a choice of the fans for the 10th time. He will join forwards LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, guard Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, and center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic in the lineup for the Eastern Conference all-stars.

This year's game will be played on Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will be Iverson's 11th straight appearance in the event.

Though he's played in only 19 games this season - 16 with the Sixers after signing with the team as a free agent in December - Iverson received 1,269,568 votes to place him second behind Wade among Eastern Conference guards.

"I just want to thank everybody for their support this season, and it's an honor that the fans have voted me into the All-Star Game as a starter," Iverson said in a statement released by the Sixers. "The fans are who make us, and make the NBA so popular. This year is even more special because I'll be representing a city and fans that I love, and a team that has been such a big part of my life throughout my career."

Not everyone is happy. Earlier in the week Denver's Chauncey Billups complained about the fans' vote. "I would rather it be something like the players vote [for the starters]," he told Denver reporters. "Everybody knows who should be there or who is playing good enough as far as your peers go."

Iverson, who is averaging 14.4 points and 4.4 assists per game, has been hindered in recent weeks by arthritis in his left knee. He has mostly played through the injury, but he told NBA.com that his condition could cause him to skip playing in the all-star game.

The Sixers have not had a player make the all-star team since Iverson went in 2006 during his first stint with the team. "I want to be able to make sure my fans are happy, because they want to see me play," the two-time All-Star Game most valuable player said. "But I have to be smart about the future of this franchise right here."

Earlier in the week, Larry Brown, Iverson's former coach with the Sixers and the current Charlotte coach, told the Associated Press he would support Iverson's participation.

"I've seen Willie Mays and those older guys start based on what they've done in their career in baseball, and we've had that happen in basketball for years, guys that have made a contribution," Brown said. "That's why the fans are involved, and I think it's kind of neat that they are involved. They support the league, they vote for their favorite players. I always look at a guy's body of work."