The National Basketball Association (NBA) tipped off 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting today during a special event in Houston, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2013. NBA All-Star Balloting will begin today at 3:30 p.m. ET.

2013 NBA All-Star Balloting gives fans around the world the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. For the first time ever, NBA fans can vote via social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and Sina Weibo and Tencent QQ in China.

We at InsideHoops.com are a bit scared by this. Hopefully the voting process is able to determine real results from Twitter and not get tricked by armies of fake Twitter spam accounts controlled by hackers to spew a zillion votes out and mess the process up.

NBA All-Star 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.

NBA All-Star ballot voting on 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.

Fans can also access the ballot and vote through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time applications, available on Android and iOS. NBA fans can fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day.

After submitting their All-Star selections, fans will have the ability to share them with their friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter, and encourage others to cast their ballots.

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 special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Clippers at the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET) and the Miami Heat at the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).

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.

The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Steve Aschburner (NBA.com), Jonathan Feigen (Houston Chronicle), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Kenny Smith (TNT).

The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised on TNT from Toyota Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. The All-Star Game, also broadcast live on ESPN Radio, will collectively reach fans in more than 220 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. NBA All-Star 2013 in Houston will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for an 11th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 29th year of All-Star coverage. State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night will feature the NBA All-Star Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2013 will include the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and NBA All-Star Jam Session. The 2013 game will mark the third NBA All-Star celebration in Houston. The city also hosted the event in 1989 and in 2006.

2013 NBA ALL-STAR EASTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

EAST GUARDS (24)
Afflalo Arron, Orlando 
Allen Ray, Miami 
Calderon Jose, Toronto 
DeRozan DeMar, Toronto 
Ellis Monta, Milwaukee 
Felton Raymond, New York 
George Paul, Indiana 
Henderson Gerald, Charlotte 
Hill George, Indiana 
Hinrich Kirk, Chicago 
Holiday Jrue, Philadelphia 
Irving Kyrie, Cleveland 
Jennings Brandon, Milwaukee 
Johnson Joe, Brooklyn 
Knight Brandon, Detroit 
Lowry Kyle, Toronto 
Rondo Rajon, Boston 
Stuckey Rodney, Detroit 
Teague Jeff, Atlanta 
Terry Jason, Boston 
Wade Dwyane, Miami 
Walker Kemba, Charlotte 
Wall John, Washington 
Williams Deron, Brooklyn 

EAST FRONTCOURT  (36)
Anthony Carmelo, New York 
Bargnani Andrea, Toronto 
Battier Shane, Miami 
Boozer Carlos, Chicago 
Bosh Chris, Miami 
Bynum Andrew, Philadelphia 
Casspi Omri, Cleveland 
Chandler Tyson, New York 
Dalembert Samuel, Milwaukee 
Davis Glen, Orlando 
Deng Luol, Chicago 
Garnett Kevin, Boston 
Gibson Taj, Chicago 
Granger Danny, Indiana 
Green Jeff, Boston 
Harrington Al, Orlando 
Hawes Spencer, Philadelphia 
Hibbert Roy, Indiana 
Horford Al, Atlanta 
Humphries Kris, Brooklyn 
Ilyasova Ersan, Milwaukee 
James LeBron, Miami 
Lopez Brook, Brooklyn 
Monroe Greg, Detroit 
Mullens Byron, Charlotte 
Nene, Washington 
Noah Joakim, Chicago 
Okafor Emeka, Washington 
Pierce Paul, Boston 
Prince Tayshaun, Detroit 
Smith Josh, Atlanta 
Stoudemire Amar'e, New York 
Varejao Anderson, Cleveland 
Wallace Gerald, Brooklyn 
West David, Indiana 
Young Thaddeus, Philadelphia 


 
2013 NBA ALL-STAR WESTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

WEST GUARDS (24)
Allen Tony, Memphis 
Billups Chauncey, LA Clippers 
Bryant Kobe, LA Lakers 
Collison Darren, Dallas 
Conley Mike, Memphis 
Curry Stephen, Golden State 
Dragic Goran, Phoenix 
Evans Tyreke, Sacramento 
Ginobili Manu, San Antonio 
Gordon Eric, New Orleans 
Harden James, Houston 
Lawson Ty, Denver 
Lin Jeremy, Houston 
Martin Kevin, Oklahoma City 
Matthews, Wesley, Portland 
Mayo O.J., Dallas 
Miller Andre, Denver 
Nash Steve, LA Lakers 
Parker Tony, San Antonio 
Paul Chris, LA Clippers 
Rubio Ricky, Minnesota 
Thompson Klay, Golden State 
Thornton Marcus, Sacramento 
Westbrook Russell, Oklahoma City 

WEST FRONTCOURT (36)
Aldridge LaMarcus, Portland 
Anderson Ryan, New Orleans 
Asik Omer, Houston 
Batum Nicolas, Portland 
Bogut Andrew, Golden State 
Cousins DeMarcus, Sacramento 
Davis Anthony, New Orleans 
Duncan Tim, San Antonio 
Durant Kevin, Oklahoma City 
Faried Kenneth, Denver 
Favors Derrick, Utah 
Gallinari Danilo, Denver 
Gasol Marc, Memphis 
Gasol Pau, LA Lakers 
Gay Rudy, Memphis 
Gortat Marcin, Phoenix 
Griffin Blake, LA Clippers 
Hill Grant, LA Clippers 
Howard Dwight, LA Lakers 
Ibaka Serge, Oklahoma City 
Iguodala Andre, Denver 
Jefferson Al, Utah 
Kaman Chris, Dallas 
Kirilenko Andrei, Minnesota 
Lee David, Golden State 
Leonard Kawhi, San Antonio 
Love Kevin, Minnesota 
Marion Shawn, Dallas 
Millsap Paul, Utah 
Nowitzki Dirk, Dallas 
Parsons Chandler, Houston 
Pekovic Nikola, Minnesota 
Perkins Kendrick, Oklahoma City 
Randolph Zach, Memphis 
Scola Luis, Phoenix 
World Peace Metta, LA Lakers