Bryant and Iverson will not play in All-Star game

By COVERS.com | February 11, 2010

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson will not participate in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game, according to a report Thursday by ESPN.

They will be replaced by Dallas Mavericks veteran guard Jason Kidd and New York Knicks big man David Lee, respectively.

Bryant missed his third straight game on Wednesday because of a sprained left ankle. He is averaging 28.0 points and 4.6 assists on the season.

Bryant was voted co-MVP of last year's All-Star game (with Shaquille O'Neal) after leading the West with 27 points on 12-of-23 shooting.

Iverson has missed three consecutive games due to his ailing daughter's health, and he is expected to miss two more contests as well.

Iverson took All-Star MVP honors in 2001 as the game's leading scorer with 25 points.

Kidd is averaging 9.9 points and 9.3 assists per contest this season, while Lee is posting 20.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

The Western Conference dominated last year's event, 146-119, easily covering as 4.5-point favorites. The game squeaked over the posted total of 263.