Bryant will start in All-Star game again

Kobe Bryant was voted by fans to start his 10th All-Star game, almost a formality for one of the game's most enthralling talents.

"It's always exciting," he said Thursday. "It doesn't get old at all. Nowadays, it's such a huge spectacle."

Joining Bryant as Western Conference starters Feb. 17 in New Orleans will be Denver guard Allen Iverson, Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, San Antonio forward Tim Duncan and Houston center Yao Ming.

Bryant led the West with slightly more than 2 million votes. He finished fourth overall in the league, behind Boston forward Kevin Garnett (2.4 million votes), Cleveland forward LeBron James (2.11 million) and Orlando center Dwight Howard (2.07 million).

Bryant, averaging 27.4 points, six rebounds and 5.1 assists, has largely bought into the team concept this season, with a few isolated forays.

He seems increasingly satisfied with what the Lakers (27-13) have become, a reality that was almost unthinkable last May, when he requested to be traded. He answered in the affirmative Thursday when asked if this was the best team the Lakers had fielded since their trip to the NBA Finals in 2004.

"I would say so," he said. "Obviously, we had a period there where we really struggled for a couple years trying to rebuild everything. Right now, we're playing well. We've got a couple key guys out defensively, but we're still managing to do a pretty good job."

Bryant was the most valuable player at last season's All-Star game in Las Vegas and in 2002 in Philadelphia.

Another big man on the Lakers needs mending.

Ronny Turiaf has been slowed by a sore big toe on his right foot, an injury that keeps him from playing extended minutes, Coach Phil Jackson said.

Turiaf was initially injured when the toe was stepped on in Monday's game against Denver. His toe was again stepped on in Wednesday's game against San Antonio.

"Hopefully he can mend as we go through it and we don't push him too hard during this period of time," Jackson said. "But we'll see where it goes. We may have to use him more minutes than I want to."

Turiaf was not the first post player off the bench against San Antonio, and it cost the Lakers for a brief stretch.

DJ Mbenga had two fouls and two turnovers in less than two minutes when he entered the game in place of Kwame Brown in the first quarter.