Kevin Durant named All-Star starter for second consecutive year

It’s no big surprise, but Kevin Durant was named to his third All-Star team and his second straight as a starter for the Western Conference.

Durant finished with 1,345,566 votes, which placed him fifth overall in the league and second in the West behind Kobe Bryant.

KD tweeted after the announcement: “Thank u guys for voting me into the all star game, I really appreciate it!!”

Durant has lead the Thunder to the best record in the league at 17-4 while averaging 26.6 points (third in the NBA) on 51 percent shooting from the field, a team-high 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 37.1 minutes. Through the first six weeks of the season, Durant has recorded eight double-doubles.

Starting with Durant for the West will be Chris Paul, Kobe, Blake Griffin and Andrew Bynum. For the East it’s Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.

Russell Westbrook was the only other Thunder player even close to the conversation as a starter, but finished fifth among point guards.