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All-Star Game starters unveiled

The Warriors' Stephen Curry has dethroned The King.

Curry made a late surge to pass LeBron James as the overall leading vote-getter for the NBA All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.

"This means a lot; it's something that I don't take for granted," Curry said in a statement. "To have support of fans not only in the Bay Area but across the nation and across the world, supporting not only myself but our team, it means a lot. I want to represent the Warriors the best way I know how, every single game, and will do that proudly in New York thanks to the fans and their votes. Something that's definitely a dream come true, and to be two times in a row, I'm proud of that."

The star of the NBA-leading Warriors, Curry ended up with more than 1.5 million votes, more than 42,000 ahead of James, who had a 13,285-vote lead over the sharpshooter at the previous update. James was the leading vote-getter last year, preceded by Kobe Bryant in 2013. Curry, who just two years ago was an All-Star snub, becomes the first Warriors player elected to consecutive starts since Chris Mullin in 1991-92.

To his credit, James didn't seem too bothered about being unseated by Curry as the top vote-getter.

"It doesn't [get old] when it comes from the fans," James said Friday. "The fans, they create us, they help us, they love and cry and smile when we do things great, when we do things bad and all of that. So the least we can do is give them an opportunity to feel like they're huge part of our game by giving them the votes. So it's great to know that my fans have put me in the game."

Pau and Marc Gasol were voted in to become the first brothers to start in the All-Star Game, while Toronto's Kyle Lowry made a late surge in fan balloting and will start for the Eastern Conference.

Lowry passed Dwyane Wade and will start alongside Washington's John Wall, the first time the East has had two first-time starters at guard since 2000. Wade's streak of nine straight games as a starter ended.

Bryant was voted to start at West guard, although that's in jeopardy because of a torn right rotator cuff.

Pau Gasol of Chicago will start up front for the East along with James and Carmelo Anthony for the Feb. 15 game at Madison Square Garden in New York. Memphis' Marc Gasol joins New Orleans' Anthony Davis and the Clippers' Blake Griffin in the West frontcourt.

"For me to be the face of New York, representing New York during All-Star Weekend is a special moment you really can't put into words," Anthony said, according to the team's website.

Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played in the 1970 and 1971 games, but the Gasols -- once traded for each other -- are the first brothers chosen to start.

The last time both squads featured a player born outside the 50 states in the starting lineup was the 2002 All-Star Game. Dikembe Mutombo (Congo) started in the East, and Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) started in the West.

"Knowing that I will be facing my brother Pau for the opening tip, it will be a true accomplishment for our family and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my career," Marc Gasol said in a statement through the Grizzlies. "It holds special meaning to be voted in by the fans, and I look forward to representing my teammates, the organization, the city of Memphis and entire Mid-South community and Grizzlies fans across the world."

Pau Gasol described his selection as "incredibly special."

"It's overwhelming. It's a huge honor. It's just beyond our selves, individuals, so it's a very exciting moment," he said. "Unforgettable, memorable, historical, you name it. You can use as many words and adjectives as you want. So right now we're very thrilled, we're overwhelmed, and we're happy and thankful to everyone that supports us, the fans that have voted for us. Our teams, our organizations -- so it's just a beautiful moment to live and go through as an NBA player."

Both Gasols were among the leaders in all the balloting updates, but Lowry was running more than 100,000 votes behind Wade, a perennial All-Star and a fan favorite, when the previous results were released. Fans rewarded Lowry for his hard-nosed play in guiding the Raptors to a huge lead in the Atlantic Division with his first All-Star appearance.

Wall earned his first last year, and now he has earned his first start. The East hasn't had both its guards making their first starts since Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and Charlotte's Eddie Jones in 2000.

Fans had to vote for two guards and three frontcourt players. The reserves will be picked by the head coaches in each conference and will be announced next Thursday.

Curry's partner in the backcourt is up in the air after the Lakers revealed Bryant's injury earlier Thursday. Although the severity of the injury is unknown, many rotator cuff injuries require surgery and several months of rehabilitation.

That could rule Bryant out of his 17th All-Star appearance, second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 19. Bryant's first was in 1998 at Madison Square Garden, site of this year's game.

Commissioner Adam Silver would name an injury replacement if needed, and coaches Steve Kerr (Golden State) of the West and Mike Budenholzer (Atlanta) of the East would determine who replaces an injured player in the lineup.

The NBA changed the ballot this year to include all active players, rather than just 60 per conference. The results included five first-time starters and 10 starters from 10 teams.

And the fans left out some of the usual faces such as Wade, Miami teammate Chris Bosh, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and the Clippers' Chris Paul.

James said he hopes some of his Cavs teammates join him on the East roster.

"I think [Kyrie Irving] and [Kevin Love are] All-Stars," James said. "Their body of work is proven. What they've done for this team and for this league has been proven as well. So, I would expect those guys to be in it."

They gave Pau Gasol his fifth All-Star selection and first in the East for his contributions to the Bulls in his first season since leaving the Lakers.

"I know the last couple of years he battled through some things. But I could see this summer how highly motivated he was," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said before the announcement was made. "I think that was important for him. He came into camp in great shape, hit the ground running. He really hasn't stopped since. He's been terrific."

Information from ESPN.com's Nick Friedell, Dave McMenamin and The Associated Press was used in this report.