NBA All Star 2014 Roster: East and West Starters Announced; Is Kobe Bryant In or Out?

The NBA announced the starters for the All Star game to be held on Feb. 16 at New Orleans. In a report from ESPN, Kobe Bryant was again voted to his 16th All Star appearance, which he has declined to let the 'younger generation' play as he recuperates from his recent injury.

USA Today reported that the starters for the Eastern Conference are reigning MVP LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Paul George of the Indiana Pacers and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks. Completing the starters is fellow Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving.

For the Western Conference, the fans chose LA Lakers Kobe Bryant followed by first time All Star Stephen Curry. For its frontcourt players, the fans chose Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, LA Clippers power forward Blake Griffin and Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love.

There were a number of first timers on this year's All-Star team. In a report on the Huffington Post, Stephen Curry, who was an All-Star snub last year is a first time starter this year. Another one is Kevin Love, who's numbers got ahead of Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard. 

According to Curry, "It's a kind of just a surreal feeling. I saw Kobe come on the screen and you know that next person on the screen was going to be me or I was going to get left off that list. I saw my name it was a real emotional kind of experience and glad my wife and daughter were here to watch it with me."

Aside from Curry and Love, another first timer is Irving, according to a report from NBA SI. He took over the spot of the injured LA Clippers guard Chris Paul, who is still recovering from a separated shoulder. 

The rest of the team would be chosen by the coaching staff of the respective squads.