Four Pistons chosen as All-Star reserves
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-10 09:01

The only other teams with four All-Stars were the Celtics (1953, '62 and '75); Lakers ('62) and 76ers ('83). This is the first time four players from one team have been picked as reserves by the coaches.

The starters were voted on by fans and were announced last Thursday. Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were chosen in the East along with forwards LeBron James from Cleveland and Jermaine O'Neal of Indiana. Philadelphia's Allen Iverson was the other guard.

Houston's Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were voted in, along with Bryant, the Suns' Steve Nash and San Antonio forward Tim Duncan.

Jermaine O'Neal is injured and his replacement will be chosen by NBA commissioner David Stern.

The toughest omissions in the East seemed to be guards Gilbert Arenas of Washington, the league's No. 4 scorer at 28.2 points per game, and Milwaukee's Michael Redd. Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Hornets rookie Chris Paul were among those left out in the West.

"I wish they would take more people, but they can't," Johnson said. "You have that every year. Every year you've got guys that's deserving. Guys that get out there every night, lay it on the line."

Coaches were required to select two guards, two forwards, one center and two other players regardless of position. They could not vote for their own players.

There will be six foreign-born players for the fourth straight year: Yao (China), Nowitzki (Germany), Gasol (Spain), Parker (France), Nash (Canada) and Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands).