The NBA announced their 2012 All-Star Starters on Thursday.

Blake Griffin, Andrew Bynum

For the Eastern Conference, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were the leading vote-getters.

In the Western Conference, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul are joined by Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Andrew Bynum.

Griffin and Bynum each will be starting in their first All-Star Game.

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Chris Paul

According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the owners and players met initially at about 2 p.m. ET and broke up to discuss the situation privately among themselves.

The players were furious at seeing first hand the owners’ offer of 46 percent of basketball-related income (BRI), down from their previous level of 57 percent, were unanimous about what to do.

“Let’s go,” one of the players said, according to a source. “There’s no reason to go back in there.” The players decided to return to the bargaining room with a much smaller group.

Among those joining Derek Fisher for the second session were LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Baron Davis and committee member Chris Paul. None of the players joining Fisher sat down during this portion of the talks, a person with knowledge of the meetings said.

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Kevin Durant

The Melo League defeated the Goodman League by a final score of 149-141 at Morgan State University on Tuesday.

Kevin Durant scored 59 points with LeBron James guarding him for most of the night. James scored 42 points and teammate Carmelo Anthony had 27. Chris Paul, Mario Chalmers, Gary Neal and Josh Selby were also on the Melo League.

Durant’s Washington-based Goodman League also had Jeff Green, Austin Day, Jarrett Jack and Roger Mason.

The game attracted an overflow crowd at the 4,500-seat gym.

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant is in the early stages of contract negotiations with the same Turkish team that has signed Deron Williams and has been pursuing Kobe Bryant, according to Durant’s agent.

Kevin Durant

Agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that he has met with officials from Turkish club Besiktas and has likewise begun exploring opportunities for Durant in Spain and Russia. Goodwin added that playing in China is not something Durant is considering at this time. “The Turkish option is very intriguing,” Goodwin said.

“We’re looking at other countries as well. Kevin hasn’t agreed to play anywhere yet, but we’re looking for the best fit.”

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Apparently Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley was not the only NBA player who lost his cool in a summer game Thursday night.

Matt Barnes

Beasley pushed a heckling fan in the face during a streetball game against Kevin Durant’s team in New York, but on the other side of the country, Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes’ victim was another player.

Barnes reportedly punched an opponent during a San Francisco Pro-Am game Thursday, according to San Francisco’s KGO TV.

“He elbowed me and pushed me, so he got one,” Barnes told ESPN.com college basketball writer Diamond Leung.

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Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose

Exhibition games like the two taking place in the Philippines this weekend are proving to be quite profitable for players, with one source with knowledge of the deals saying the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Chicago’s Derrick Rose are being paid more than $400,000 apiece for their weekend of tax-free work.

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Kevin Durant’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, told SI.com that he is exploring overseas options for his most high-profile client.

Kevin Durant

“If the opportunity presents itself and the lockout persists, he’s going to have to consider it just as other players are considering it,” Goodwin said. “Kevin has shown some interest to know what the situation is and we’ll reach out to the players’ association and make sure that they’re aligned with the guys in case they do take an offer. But I think what you’re going to see happening is a lot of players are going to look at the opportunity if the lockout prolongs that they can go somewhere and play basketball.

“If they’re not allowed to play in the NBA, they’ve got to look at other opportunities. If you have teams that want you to play and the NBA is willing to sit out a year, why sit out a year?”

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Kevin Durant

Thunder forward Kevin Durant has reportedly purchased a condo in a luxury high-rise in Miami.

According to the South Florida Business Journal, a company affiliated with Durant bought a $1.825 million unit at 900 Biscayne Boulevard. The company, K. Durant Enterprises, closed on the property on March 30, according to the report.

The 63-story skyscraper is just blocks away from American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat, and only a short drive from Miami Beach.

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The top plays, images, interviews, and celebrations from the first round playoff series between the Thunder and Nuggets.

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