With two All-Stars starters and a spot atop the Pacific Division, the Los Angeles Clippers are getting praise that's usually reserved for the other team in Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant was asked if he could have imagined that city having four All-Star starters.
"Yeah, they were just in Laker uniforms," Bryant said. "Clippers had none, but it's been a great turnaround and Los Angeles is obviously well-represented."
The Lakers did have four All-Stars in 1998, with Shaquille O'Neal, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones joining Bryant.
The Clippers' rapid turnaround came after they traded for Paul in the preseason, and Miami's Dwyane Wade is happy for his friend's success.
"Hopefully they take a little while to get real, real, real, real good, but they're fast-tracking that thing over there in L.A. and I'm happy for him," Wade said.
The Clippers went into the break with a 1½-game lead over the Lakers in the division. And if the Clippers reach the NBA Finals, don't expect Bryant to be cheering for them to win.
"I'll be on an island somewhere, how about that?"
Gerald Green, the 2007 slam dunk champion, picked up another All-Star Weekend award.
Green, a former first-round pick of Boston now playing for the L.A. D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, earned MVP honors at the D-League All-Star Game after scoring 28 points in the West's 135-132 win over the East.
Billy Hunter said he is satisfied with the state of affairs at the halfway point of the compressed NBA season.
The union leader says he is waiting to see official revenue figures from the league, but officials have indicated the players will see higher numbers than expected.