You decide who plays in NBA All Star Game 2013

You, the fan, can choose which players are in the all star game. The voting is democratic, we decide who starts. And we can do so from our armchairs. But we have to choose among the list of 120 players available to vote for. That is the only thing which ruled White Mamba out.

For the first time, fans can vote using social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and Sina Weibo and Tencent QQ in China. Not that any of us have an idea about the last two. I like the part about Twitter voting. It allows for exponential increase in the votes. As people watch the votes on Twitter, it gives the player being voted more visibility thus resulting in more votes.

Here’s how the social media voting works:

Twitter voting will allow fans to tweet a vote for one player each day throughout the All-Star balloting period. The tweet must include a player’s first and last name, along with hash tag #NBABALLOT.

Facebook voting will allow fans to fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through a custom application on Facebook.

Of course, social media voting also increases the brand presence of NBA across the social media platforms. The better part about it is the visibility of votes. A lot of die hard fans vote every single day just to watch their favourite star take the court. With social media voting, those fans can show their loyalty in a better way than marking a spot on their thumb.

The other ways of casting votes are through the NBA Game Time apps, go vote on the website of NBA, SMS voting (which I don’t see any Indian doing unless its toll free).

Every day fans can vote for 10 different players. Balloting will conclude on Jan. 14, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 17, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 36 frontcourt and 24 guards from each conference comprising the list. Voters select three frontcourt and two guards from each conference. Previously, the ballot featured three positions with fans picking two guards, two forwards and a center.

That is a very curious aspect, not the removal of the center,which is welcome. The NBA is fast evolving in a positionless league with Andrew Bynum shooting 3s. The players these days are very versatile and tend to play multiple positions. The curious aspect is that Dwight Howard is unhappy with this decision. The only reason I can think of for him being displeased with this voting is that he is going to garner fewer votes when he is clumped together with other frontcourt players, instead of being pooled with centers where the crop is not as elite as the frontcourt players are. That doesn’t speak much for his confidence.

The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA, not including yours truly.

The all-star game will be held on February 17 in Houston. Following events will take place:

NBA All-Star Shooting StarsTaco Bell Skills ChallengeFoot Locker Three-Point ContestSprite Slam DunkBBVA Rising Stars ChallengeSprint NBA All-Star Celebrity GameNBA All-Star Jam Session.

Here’s my pick for the all star squad:

West:

DeAndre Jordan (Hey, Shaq just called him the best center in the West, who are we to disagree)Blake Griffin Kevin Durant Kobe Bryant Chris Paul

East:

Andrew BynumChris BoshCarmelo AnthonyDwyane WadeRajon Rondo

Following are the players who can be voted for in the All Star game.

2013 NBA ALL-STAR EASTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

EAST GUARDS (24)

Afflalo Arron, OrlandoAllen Ray, MiamiCalderon Jose, TorontoDeRozan DeMar, TorontoEllis Monta, MilwaukeeFelton Raymond, New YorkGeorge Paul, IndianaHenderson Gerald, CharlotteHill George, IndianaHinrich Kirk, ChicagoHoliday Jrue, PhiladelphiaIrving Kyrie, ClevelandJennings Brandon, MilwaukeeJohnson Joe, BrooklynKnight Brandon, DetroitLowry Kyle, TorontoRondo Rajon, BostonStuckey Rodney, DetroitTeague Jeff, AtlantaTerry Jason, BostonWade Dwyane, MiamiWalker Kemba, CharlotteWall John, WashingtonWilliams Deron, Brooklyn

EAST FRONTCOURT (36)Anthony Carmelo, New YorkBargnani Andrea, TorontoBattier Shane, MiamiBoozer Carlos, ChicagoBosh Chris, MiamiBynum Andrew, PhiladelphiaCasspi Omri, ClevelandChandler Tyson, New YorkDalembert Samuel, MilwaukeeDavis Glen, OrlandoDeng Luol, ChicagoGarnett Kevin, BostonGibson Taj, ChicagoGranger Danny, IndianaGreen Jeff, BostonHarrington Al, OrlandoHawes Spencer, PhiladelphiaHibbert Roy, IndianaHorford Al, AtlantaHumphries Kris, BrooklynIlyasova Ersan, MilwaukeeJames LeBron, MiamiLopez Brook, BrooklynMonroe Greg, DetroitMullens Byron, CharlotteNene, WashingtonNoah Joakim, ChicagoOkafor Emeka, WashingtonPierce Paul, BostonPrince Tayshaun, DetroitSmith Josh, AtlantaStoudemire Amar’e, New YorkVarejao Anderson, ClevelandWallace Gerald, BrooklynWest David, IndianaYoung Thaddeus, Philadelphia2013 NBA ALL-STAR WESTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

WEST GUARDS (24)

Allen Tony, MemphisBillups Chauncey, LA ClippersBryant Kobe, LA LakersCollison Darren, DallasConley Mike, MemphisCurry Stephen, Golden StateDragic Goran, PhoenixEvans Tyreke, SacramentoGinobili Manu, San AntonioGordon Eric, New OrleansHarden James, HoustonLawson Ty, DenverLin Jeremy, HoustonMartin Kevin, Oklahoma CityMatthews, Wesley, PortlandMayo O.J., DallasMiller Andre, DenverNash Steve, LA LakersParker Tony, San AntonioPaul Chris, LA ClippersRubio Ricky, MinnesotaThompson Klay, Golden StateThornton Marcus, SacramentoWestbrook Russell, Oklahoma City

WEST FRONTCOURT (36)

Aldridge LaMarcus, PortlandAnderson Ryan, New OrleansAsik Omer, HoustonBatum Nicolas, PortlandBogut Andrew, Golden StateCousins DeMarcus, SacramentoDavis Anthony, New OrleansDuncan Tim, San AntonioDurant Kevin, Oklahoma CityFaried Kenneth, DenverFavors Derrick, UtahGallinari Danilo, DenverGasol Marc, MemphisGasol Pau, LA LakersGay Rudy, MemphisGortat Marcin, PhoenixGriffin Blake, LA ClippersHill Grant, LA ClippersHoward Dwight, LA LakersIbaka Serge, Oklahoma CityIguodala Andre, DenverJefferson Al, UtahKaman Chris, DallasKirilenko Andrei, MinnesotaLee David, Golden StateLeonard Kawhi, San AntonioLove Kevin, MinnesotaMarion Shawn, DallasMillsap Paul, UtahNowitzki Dirk, DallasParsons Chandler, HoustonPekovic Nikola, MinnesotaPerkins Kendrick, Oklahoma CityRandolph Zach, MemphisScola Luis, PhoenixWorld Peace Metta, LA Lakers