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The world premiere of the NBA All-Star 2004 ballot takes
place today in Los Angeles, providing NBA fans around the globe the opportunity
to vote for their favorite players as starters in the 53rd NBA All-Star Game to
be played at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004.
Today’s star-studded event included red carpet appearances by current Los Angeles
Lakers who are appearing on the ballot, and Hollywood celebrities who cast the
first votes in the NBA All-Star Balloting Program.
Now through Jan. 18, fans will have the opportunity to vote in more ways than
ever as the balloting program for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game has expanded this
season to include 17 languages on the NBA.com Network, downloadable ballots via
Verizon Wireless and approximately 150 Loews Cineplex Entertainment movie theaters
in the United States. New retail partners Foot Locker and Circuit City join Sprite,
America Online, Champs Sports, Reebok and 989 Sports as balloting partners this
year.
NBA All-Star 2004 is a weeklong celebration that enables fans to experience the
thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features
a slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals.
A total of 120 players -– 60 from the Eastern and Western Conferences -– are listed
on the NBA All-Star ballot, with 24 guards, 24 forwards and 12 centers from each
conference comprising the ballot. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one
center from each conference.
The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media experts who regularly
cover the NBA. This year’s panel included; Ric Bucher (ESPN the Magazine), Mark
Heisler (Los Angeles Times), Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated), Jack Ramsay (NBA
on ESPN Radio), Sam Smith (Chicago Tribune and President, Professional Basketball
Writers’ Association), and Bill Walton (ABC Sports/ESPN).
The following is a complete listing of the players as they appear on the ballot: