With the All-Star starting lineups set for Toronto, our panel of experts are breaking down the squads representing the East and West north of the border.
1. Should Kobe be starting?
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Yes, Kobe should be starting. It's a reward not only for his career accomplishments but also for the way he always treated the All-Star Game: as a competition, not a showcase. We're talking about a guy who once played through a possible concussion in an All-Star Game. Yeah, send him off with one last moment in the NBA's spotlight.
Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN.com: If you believe that the All-Star Game is an exhibition meant to capture prevailing sentiment about the NBA at a moment in time, then absolutely. Kobe's retirement is one of the season's big stories, even if his numbers are an eyesore. If you regard the All-Star Game as a strict expression of statistical integrity, then of course not.
Chris Broussard, ESPN The Magazine: Kobe obviously has not played well enough to start or even make the team. And the unfortunate thing is that his presence will keep a deserving All-Star from making the squad, like possibly LaMarcus Aldridge. I would like to have seen them create a 13th spot in this special occasion for Kobe because he does deserve to be honored. That said, it's an exhibition game for the fans, so if they want Kobe, they should get Kobe.
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: Does he deserve to start? Obviously not, but we have the fan vote for a reason, and if fans want to see Bryant one last time, I can hardly blame them given I'm about to drive five hours round trip to do the same thing Saturday in Portland.
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: Yes. Absolutely. No issues here. This nostalgic old sap wants to see him on the All-Star stage one more time as much as the nearly 2 million people who cast ballots for him.
2. What did the voters get right?
Adande: I'm of the belief that the voters get everything right every year, because it's their choice and their game. But I especially like the mix of popular picks and earned spots this year. Kobe, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony are a mix of nostalgia and brand names, and every one of the rest of the players is there on merit.
Arnovitz: The Western Conference backcourt of Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, even with the embarrassment of riches the West has at the guard position. As obvious as Curry's selection is, Westbrook's season is historic. He's leading the league in real plus-minus, and his assist percentage is second only to Chris Paul's. And for sheer entertainment value, he's the livest wire in the game.
Broussard: Obviously, LeBron and Paul George in the East, and the four starters besides Kobe in the West.
Pelton: Kyle Lowry coming from behind to nab a starting spot. If fans want to see Kyrie Irving, that's their right. However, Lowry has been the best point guard in the East this season, and having him as a starter makes picking reserves a whole lot easier.
Stein: I hate this question. It's fan voting for the All-Star Game. Since when are fans supposed to be rational? I'm certainly not rational when it comes my favorite players on my favorite teams on earth. (For the record, they are Israel's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams, soccer's Manchester City, hockey's Buffalo Sabres and anything Cal State Fullerton.)
3. What did the voters get wrong?
Adande: I won't say "wrong," since there's no such thing as a "wrong" vote. Let's just say I would have chosen differently than Wade and Anthony. I'd go with Jimmy Butler and Andre Drummond, two players having better seasons with better teams.
Arnovitz: I'm an All-Star populist, so I don't believe there's any such thing as a "wrong" All-Star selection -- though the voting process should have more transparency. But if pure merit is your bag, then Draymond Green should get the nod over Bryant, with Jimmy Butler and Paul Millsap deserving of starting spots in the East over Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.
Broussard: In the East, I could argue for John Wall over Lowry. I do think Wall is better, but considering that the Wizards are below .500 and out of the playoffs and the Raptors are the second seed, I'm fine with Lowry. I still think Wade is a bona fide All-Star, but I think Butler should be the starting shooting guard. I also think Andre Drummond, the league's top rebounder and a near 18-point scorer for the sixth-seeded Pistons, should be starting over Anthony. In the West, obviously Green should be starting over Kobe.
Pelton: Again, it's their vote to use however they want, but it's harder to make the case for an aging Wade as a starter given that there isn't the same last-chance factor as with Bryant. Wade doesn't merit an All-Star spot on performance and could probably use the time off as he deals with shoulder issues.
Stein: I hate this question even more. Obviously Green, on pure performance so far this season, deserves to start for the West as much as Kawhi Leonard. But unfortunately, he's the one most directly affected by the Kobe Factor, which isn't exactly the biggest crime in NBA history. I wouldn't have voted for Wade as an East starter, either, but that's just me. I can't muster venom about these things in my advancing age. I'll leave outrage to The Chuckster.
4. Which rookie will become an All-Star starter first?
Adande: Kristaps Porzingis. Karl-Anthony Towns might be the better, more consistent player, but Porzingis gets more hype. If Porzingis' jersey is already a top-five seller, it's only a matter of time before those purchasers become voters. Click-to-buy fingers turn to Twitter fingers. Or something like that.
Arnovitz: Porzingis, because the line figures to be much shorter in the Eastern Conference frontcourt over the next few years. And with all his charisma and freakishness, Porzingis is already catnip for fans domestic and international. He's destined to be a fan favorite for years to come, especially with the words "NEW YORK" draped across his chest.
Broussard: Porzingis will be the first rookie from this class to start an All-Star Game because being in New York gives him a huge advantage with voters, and playing in the East means he faces less competition.
Pelton: Porzingis. He'll have not only the Big Apple but all of Latvia putting its voting muscle behind him, and the Eastern Conference frontcourt figures to be a lot easier to crack than the West will be for Karl-Anthony Towns. Look at this year's results: Porzingis finished sixth, and Towns wasn't in the top 15 in voting.
Stein: I'm honestly surprised that Porzingis wasn't voted in at the first attempt. It was just one year ago that Zemgus Girgensons from my beloved Sabres -- and from the same country as Zinger -- rode a huge push from his native Latvia to rank as the leading vote-getter among fans for the NHL All-Star Game. Given how popular Porzingis already is on these shores and back home, I'm not sure how he didn't make a closer run at a starting spot than Zaza Pachulia.
5. Who has the stronger starting lineup?
Adande: The West. It has the reigning All-Star MVP in Westbrook, and the reigning real MVP in Curry in the starting lineup. And Kobe's decline won't be as noticeable when nobody on the court is playing defense.
Arnovitz: A starting backcourt of Curry and Westbrook is as close to a conversation-ender as this debate has. Even with Kobe pulling up the rear, Durant and Leonard more than bolster the West up front, especially since the East has limited size and limited stretch. The Warriors' or Spurs' starting five might be an even-money bet against the East starters.
Broussard: The West, even with Kobe. Steph is better than Lowry, Westbrook is better than Wade, Durant is better than Melo, and even though LeBron is superior to Kawhi, Kawhi plays extremely well against LeBron.
Pelton: Clearly the West, despite Bryant's presence. Although the conferences might be fairly even overall this season, star power still tilts westward. Three of the top four players in ESPN's real plus-minus are West starters, and four of the top six in my wins above replacement player metric.
Stein: The West. Steph and Kawhi are top MVP contenders. KD and Russ are also in the MVP mix as well as being Steph's closest pursuers in the PER race. The East should have some nice chemistry with LeBron, D-Wade and Melo coming together for another reunion of the 2003 draft class, but the road team will have the edge when they all line up for the opening tip. Just don't ask who'll be jumping center because there are no true bigs on either side.