To culminate an exciting All-Star Weekend, the 2011 NBA All-Star Game will be played later today at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 60th annual All-Star game features a host of former game MVP winners, including multiple winners Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who are among the favorites to be the 2011 All-Star MVP. Dwyane Wade is the defending MVP, trying to become the first back-to-back winner since Bob Pettit in 1958 and 1959. Here are the former game MVP winners playing in today's game:
- Kobe Bryant (2002, 2007, 2009*)
- LeBron James (2006, 2008)
- Dwyane Wade (2009)
- Kevin Garnett (2003)
- Tim Duncan (2000*)
*denotes shared award
Charles Barkley, who won the 1991 All-Star MVP while with Philadelphia, will of course be in the house as well, as part of the TNT pregame and postgame broadcast crew. Here are the favorites to win All-Star Game MVP today, per our friends at Bodog:
- Bryant +500
- James +500
- Derrick Rose +600
- Kevin Durant +750
- Dwyane Wade +1000
- Dwight Howard +1000
- Carmelo Anthony +1000
The 60th NBA All-Star Game will be televised on TNT beginning with a 4 p.m. PST pregame show on TNT. The game broadcast begins at 5 p.m. PST.