Canadian Nash, who gains his fifth All-Star berth, and his team mates were among 14 players chosen by the coaches for the February 18 showpiece to be held at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash of Canada smiles before playing against the Miami Heat in their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida, December 13, 2006. [Reuters]

 
Also picked as reserves for the Western Conference team were Allen Iverson (Denver Nuggets), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks), Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz) and Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs).

The Eastern Conference reserves are: Caron Butler (Washington Wizards), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons), Jason Kidd and Vince Carter (New Jersey Nets) and Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers).

The 14 players were chosen by the 30 NBA head coaches who were asked to vote for seven players in their respective conferences: two guards, two forwards, one center and two players in any position.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their own team.

Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni was named last week as Western Conference All-Star team coach.

"Obviously the reason I'm there is because of these three guys and other guys on the Phoenix Suns," D'Antoni said in a statement. "For them to get this, that's really special."

Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan will take charge of the Eastern Conference team, the league said on Thursday.

The starting line-ups for the All-Star Game were selected last week.

Western Conference: Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets), Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) and Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers).

Eastern Conference: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards) and Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors).

Las Vegas is the first non-NBA city to host the annual game.