MIAMI, January 25 – The NBA announced tonight that Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade were selected as starters for the Eastern Conference in a vote of the fans for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. The 56th NBA All-Star Game will be played at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET and be broadcast nationally on TNT. O’Neal and Wade are joined by Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (the top vote-getter), Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh and Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas as Eastern Conference starters. The Western Conference starters are Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady. The Eastern and Western Conference reserves will be selected by the league’s 30 head coaches and will be announced on Feb. 1 prior to the Cavaliers-HEAT game on TNT.

O’Neal, who is making his third All-Star start as a member of the HEAT, tied Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West and Utah Jazz great Karl Malone for the most consecutive All-Star appearances in NBA history with 14. O’Neal has started eight of the 10 NBA All-Star Games in which he has appeared and has averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.70 blocks, 1.30 steals and 24.6 minutes while shooting 54.4 percent from the floor. Three times (1997, 2001 and 2002) he could not participate due to injury. O’Neal’s total of 1,622,446 votes ranked seventh among all players this season.

Wade, who finished fourth in the overall voting with 2,029,591 votes, was the top vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards. The 2007 All-Star appearance will mark his third consecutive and the second straight year in which he was named a starter. In his two previous All-Star appearances he has averaged 17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.00 steals, 1.00 blocks and 27 minutes while shooting 62.5 percent from the floor. Wade, who captured the NBA Finals MVP last season and was the winner of the 2006 Playstation Skills Challenge at All-Star Weekend, hit the game-winning field goal in last year’s All-Star game at Houston. Wade currently leads the HEAT in scoring average (career-high 28.3 ppg), field goals made (330) and attempted (683), free throws made (312) and attempted (384), assists (7.9 apg), steals (2.06 spg) and minutes (39.2 mpg). He is the only player in the NBA this season ranked in the Top 10 in scoring average (4th), assists per game (7th), steals per game (6th) and minutes per game (9th).

2007 NBA ALL-STAR FINAL BALLOTING-EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 2,516,049; Chris Bosh (Tor) 1,091,263; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 934,749; Grant Hill (Orl) 677,423; Paul Pierce (Bos) 615,911; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 549,693; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 459,139; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 408,936; Caron Butler (Was) 404,489; Emeka Okafor (Char) 388,170.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 2,029,591; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 1,454,166; Vince Carter (NJ) 1,451,156; Jason Kidd (NJ) 838,486; Chauncey Billups (Det) 499,670; Stephon Marbury (NY) 458,181; Michael Redd (Mil) 351,277; Ben Gordon (Chi) 316,428; Steve Francis (NY) 307,287; Richard Hamilton (Det) 306,547.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 1,622,446; Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,464,613; Ben Wallace (Chi) 788,950; Alonzo Mourning (Mia) 338,904; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 256,579; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 244,507; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 217,067; Eddy Curry (NY) 202,010; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 196,000; Primoz Brezec (Char) 164,734.

2007 NBA ALL-STAR FINAL BALLOTING-WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minn) 1,616,575; Tim Duncan (SA) 1,436,584; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,309,945; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 1,276,304; Shane Battier (Hou) 1,025,643; Shawn Marion (Pho) 551,173; Lamar Odom (LAL) 438,824; Josh Howard (Dal) 412,102; Pau Gasol (Mem) 364,459; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 359,882.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 2,138,777; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,942,796; Allen Iverson (Den) 1,813,638*; Steve Nash (Pho) 1,504,826; Manu Ginobili (SA) 541,341; Tony Parker (SA) 501,429; Chris Paul (NOK) 462,206; Ray Allen (Sea) 444,443; Jason Terry (Dal) 421,924; Baron Davis (GS) 354,412.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 2,451,718; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 1,209,333; Erick Dampier (Dal) 385,179; Marcus Camby (Den) 373,382; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 339,247; Francisco Elson (SA) 252,622; Tyson Chandler (NOK) 202,531; Brad Miller (Sac) 186,230; Mark Blount (Minn) 175,322; Chris Kaman (LAC) 160,234.

* The Philadelphia – Denver trade involving Allen Iverson was completed after the media panel’s deadline for selecting the ballot and therefore Iverson is listed on the ballot as a member of his prior team. For tabulation purposes, Iverson’s votes will be counted towards the Western Conference totals.