LAKERS ALL STARS 2014-15

[snaquille oatmeal]

China.NBA.com has just reset their "Likes" rankings for the new 2014-2015 season to gauge player popularity.

Predictably, Jeremy Lin is first at 180,693 "Likes" and Kobe is second at 5,861 "Likes" ahead of the rest of the pack.

The Lakers hold 8 of the top 15 spots.

There are ZERO Rockets players in the top 15 following the Lin trade. Whatever residual influence Yao's tenure had on the Rockets being China's team has surely diminished. Judging by these popularity rankings on NBA.com, the Lakers seem to be quite a bit more popular than the Rockets over there.

The highest ranked Rocket in popularity is Dwight Howard who just misses the top 15, coming in at #16. Harden, who was in the top 10 last season, is now kicked out of the top 30 altogether. "Roleplayer/Piece" Asik is ahead of "Cornerstones" Harden/Howard.

http://china.nba.com/like/

I can't read Chinese, but a Lakers fan on another board has translated it (the bolded names in the China.NBA.com popularity rankings are Lakers players).

1. Jeremy Lin
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Tim Duncan
4. Lebron James
5. Steve Nash
6. Omer Asik
7. Tony Parker
8. Nick Young
9. Dwyane Wade
10. Manu Ginobli
11. Jordan Hill
12. Wesley Johnson
13. Xavier Henry
14. Carlos Boozer
15. Kevin Durant
16. Dwight Howard
17. Stephen Curry
18. Chris Paul
19. Russell Westbrook
20. Kawhi Leonard
21. Ray Allen
22. Dirk Nowitzki
23. Kyrie Irving
24. Paul George
25. Blake Griffin
26. Carmelo Anthony
27. Derrick Rose
28. Pau Gasol
29. Chris Bosh
30. Kent Bazemore

The caveat, of course, is that these rankings are from the NBA.com community, which may not be the same as popularity rankings assembled on other sites. But these rankings do have the advantage of having been reset to only reflect the new 2014-2015 season, instead of carryover votes/"likes" from previous seasons.

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1339707

[Kilroy]

Ryan Kelly and Jeremy Lin... Everyone else is just holding them back.

[hermes]

yeah where is ryan kelly

come on china

[Marionettetc]

That list is basically a top 30 of all time, so I think we are a lock for the finals this year.

[WCDYNASTY]

Whether they deserve it or not, Kobe and Lin will both be starting All-Stars next season.


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[Tiesto_Lakers]

I don't see how Lin will get more votes than Chris Paul. Sure, Lin is popular in China but he didn't surpass Paul last year and the Rockets are pretty huge in China as well (Yao).

[LApwnd]

I gona enjoy all-star voting....if Lin has a respectable stat line and we're in the mix, I have no doubt with china's help he'll be the leading vote getter at PG in the ENTIRE league lol

[spaceballer]

There have been more votes on the NBA China website. There really hasn't been that much change. Some key changes...

Nick Young moved up 1 space to #7.

Xavier, Hill, and Johnson seem to be battling for 11,12,13, with Xavier pulling ahead.

11 Xavier Henry
12 Jordan Hill
13 Wesley Johnson

All of those are still ahead of Kevin Durant #15. Under Armor needs to call Xavier, Hill, and Johnson! Much cheaper. lol

Dwight slipped a little.
18 Dwight Howard

[Sofa King]

Still amazed Bazemore made that list over lots of guys