TORONTO – The National Basketball Association today launched SMS voting for the 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting program which allows fans in Canada to submit votes via text message to help determine the starters for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.

Fans can now submit votes through mobile phones by texting a player’s last name to 3-8-6-5-7 (“DUNKS”) on any wireless carrier.  SMS votes can be submitted for up to 10 different players per day, per phone number, by sending 10 separate text messages, each with a different player’s last name. Fans can vote for All-Stars via SMS at any time by texting from their mobile phones. Message and data rates may apply.

2012 NBA All-Star Balloting gives fans around the world the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. Along with SMS voting in the U.S. and Canada, fans globally can cast their votes in 16 languages on NBA.com and by visiting m.NBA.com from any wireless device.

Fans can also use their Facebook profile information to help create an NBA.com All-Access account, which enables them to complete a ballot. After submitting their All-Star selections, fans will have the ability to share them with their friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter, and encourage others to cast their ballots.

Wireless and SMS balloting, as well as voting on NBA.com, will conclude on Jan. 31. Starters for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be announced on Feb. 2, and reserves will be unveiled on Feb. 9.

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. Toronto Raptors players on the 2012 NBA All-Star ballot include Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, and DeMar DeRozan.  The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Bill Simmons (Grantland), Sekou Smith (NBA.com), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Ian Thomsen (Sports Illustrated).

NBA All-Star 2012 in Orlando will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. The 61^st NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TSN in Canada and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at the Amway Center on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.