DALLAS — Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Allen Iverson of the 76ers won’t play in the All-Star Game this weekend.
Both former NBA MVPs were voted into the starting lineups by fans.
The NBA announced Thursday that Bryant will be replaced by Dallas point guard Jason Kidd on the Western Conference roster. Iverson’s spot in the Eastern Conference will be filled by Knicks forward David Lee.
Bryant missed his third straight game for the Lakers Wednesday night with a sore left ankle.
Iverson missed his fifth straight game for the 76ers Wednesday night to be with his sick daughter.
Meanwhile, the Bulls said all-star guard Derrick Rose suffered “no significant injury” to his hip or lower back after a hard foul by Orlando’s Dwight Howard on Wednesday night.
Rose will be re-examined by team physician Brian Cole in Dallas on Saturday. Rose still hopes to defend his Skills Challenge title that night and participate in his first All-Star Game on Sunday at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
NBA proposal targets all players.
The proposal the NBA sent to the players’ association for a new collective bargaining agreement seeks cuts from the biggest superstars down to guys not even in the league.
First-round picks would have their salaries cut by about one-third, and the minimum salary would be reduced by as much as 20 percent. The total value of a maximum contract also would drop significantly.
The league sent the proposal to the union last week, and negotiators from both sides will meet today to discuss a new deal to replace the one that will expire July 1, 2011.
Former Lakers coach Schaus dies
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Fred Schaus, a former Lakers coach and general manager who mentored Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley at West Virginia, died Wednesday night in Morgantown. He was 84.
Schaus was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft and played five seasons with the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Pistons and New York Knicks.
He compiled a 127-26 record as head coach at West Virginia from 1954-60, including six straight NCAA Tournament berths. The Mountaineers, led by West, advanced to the NCAA championship game in 1959, losing to California 71-70.
Schaus followed West to the Lakers, going 315-245 in seven seasons as head coach and guiding the team to four NBA Finals before becoming general manager in 1967. The 1971-72 Lakers beat the Knicks for the NBA title.
