Kobe Bryant said Sunday he preferred fans vote for younger players to participate in the midseason showcase Feb. 16 in New Orleans because he did not anticipate playing at a high level by then as he recovers from a broken bone in his left knee.
"I probably won't be able to come back soon enough to be able to make my stamp or make my mark on the game," Bryant said, "so my advice would be to vote for some of the younger players, the Damian Lillards of the world, because they're more than deserving to be out there and playing that weekend."