KD leads Western Conf. forwards in first All-Star ballot returns

Last season, it felt like a huge deal that Kevin Durant was an All-Star. This season, he’s well on his way to being a starter.

The first returns for the 2011 All-Star Teams are in and KD is second-leading vote getter in the West, period (470,881 votes). He’s only behind Kobe Bryant (722,682). But Durant leads all Western forwards, that includes Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan. Pretty impressive.

Russell Westbrook got a solid number of votes as he ranks seventh among Western guards. Westbrook (140,519 votes) trails Kobe, Chris Paul, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd.

The Thunder’s other All-Star candidates are Thabo Sefolosha and Jeff Green, and they aren’t, um, on the voting returns.

Remember, you can vote daily so be sure to stuff the box for KD and Russ (and Jeff and Thabo).