After being voted in by the fans, J.R. Smith will be dressed in white representing the South All-Star Team in Guangzhou on February 19th for the 2012 CBA All-Star Game. (Photo: Anta Basketball)

As expected, Zhejiang Chouzhou’s J.R. Smith and Beijing Shougang’s Stephon Marbury were officially announced as starters for the 2012 CBA All-Star Game after being voted in by fans. Marbury will suit up for the North team, while Smith will represent the South.

The CBA limits two foreign players to each All-Star team’s roster, one starter and one reserve. Reserves will be announced next week.

After checking in as the number one and two vote getters through January 9th, both Marbury, who finished with 592,629 votes, and Smith (418,183) were ultimately surpassed by perennial fan favorite, Wang Zhizhi, who for the second straight year lead all vote getters with 814,670 ballots according to Sohu.

But it doesn’t stop there. Li Xiaoxu (749,716), Mengke Bateer (705,015), Zhang Nan (621,255) all finished above Marbury, while Yang Ming (521,580) and Zhu Fangyu (444,258) nudged past Smith. Not really sure how that happens since the only Chinese hoops fans who like Zhang Nan more  Steph and J.R. are probably his parents… but hey, it’s China and for the sake of keeping one’s sanity here, sometimes the best questions are the ones that remain unasked.

This year, the league saw a huge upswing in voting compared to last year. In 2011, 855,879 fans casted votes. This year, that number increased to 1,072,858.

The 2012 CBA All-Star Weekend will be played this year from February 18-19 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena.

North All-Stars:

Center: Mengke Bateer (Xinjiang Flying Tigers)
Forward: Zhang Nan (Tianjin Golden Lions)
Forward: Li Xiaoxu (Liaoning Jaguars)
Guard: Stephon Marbury (Beijing Ducks)
Guard: Yang Ming (Liaoning Jaguars)

South All-Stars:

Center: Wang Zhizhi (Bayi Rockets)
Forward: Ding Jinhui (Zhejiang Golden Bulls)
Forward: Zhu Fangyu (Guangdong Southern Tigers)
Guard: J.R. Smith (Zhejiang Golden Bulls)
Guard: Wang Shipeng (Guangdong Southern Tigers)