The NBA announced today that Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay and guards O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley will appear on the ballot for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. The annual contest will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at the US Airways Center in Phoenix and air live on TNT and ESPN radio.
Fans can vote their favorite players into the game beginning Thursday, Nov. 13, with ballots available at FedExForum during Grizzlies home games. Additionally, voters can access the ballot at NBA.com and through t-zones on T-Mobile phones. A total of 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – are listed on the ballot. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference.
Gay, the eighth overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, is currently tied for 22nd in scoring (20.0 ppg) while averaging 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The 6-8, 230-pound forward, who participated in the Sprite Slam Dunk contest at the 2008 All-Star game, holds career averages of 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.96 blocks in 32.4 minutes in 167 career games (132 starts).
Mayo, the third overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, leads all NBA rookies in scoring (team-high 21.1 ppg) and recently became the first rookie since LeBron James in 2003 to score 30 or more points in consecutive games. The 6-4, 210-pound guard has also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.38 steals in 39.5 minutes in eight career games (all starts).
Conley, the fourth overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, led all NBA rookies in assists last season (team-high 4.2) and posted the highest assist average for any rookie since the 2005-06 season. The 6-1, 185-pound guard, who participated in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge as part of All-Star Weekend, owns career averages of 8.9 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 25.9 minutes in 61 games (54 starts) with the Grizzlies.
With Gay (20.0 ppg) and Mayo (21.1 ppg), the Grizzlies are one of only two teams in the NBA with a tandem of 20-point scorers. The San Antonio Spurs, behind Tony Parker (27.4 ppg) and Tim Duncan (26.0 ppg), are the other.
