AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The NBA announced today that Pistons Guard Allen Iverson was voted as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team after receiving 1,804,649 fan votes. He joins LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett to round out the starting five for the East. The 2009 NBA All-Star Game will be played in Phoenix, Arizona on February 15 at US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns.
“It's always an honor to be named an All-Star and it's a blessing to be in this league,” said Iverson. Being named an All-Star starter makes it that much more special. The fact that the fans have voted me onto the team makes this a great honor and it's truly appreciated.”
Iverson, the MVP of the 2001 and 2005 NBA All-Star Games, will make his 10th All-Star appearance, all as a starter, even though he did not play in the 2007 game due to an ankle injury. Named an All-Star as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, Iverson now joins Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors, 76ers, Lakers), Moses Malone (Rockets, Bullets, Hawks, 76ers), Shaquille O’Neal (Magic, Lakers, Heat) and Jason Kidd (Suns, Nets, Mavericks) as the only players in NBA All-Star history to be named a starter as a member of three or more different teams. In the eight games played, Iverson has averaged 16.0 points, 6.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds. He scored an all-star-high 35 points in the 2003 game, scored in double figures in five of eight games and dished out 10 or more assists twice.
A 12-year NBA veteran, Iverson was acquired by the Pistons on November 3, 2009 in exchange for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb. In 40 games this season, he’s averaging 17.9 points, 5.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 38.4 minutes per game.
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