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Fans to vote for 3 frontcourt players

NEW YORK -- Small ball has made its mark on the NBA All-Star ballot.

The league announced Wednesday that it was dropping the center spot from the ballot in a nod to the way the sport has changed in recent years.

Fans will vote for three frontcourt players and two guards, instead of two guards, two forwards and a center.

NBA executive vice president of operations Stu Jackson says having a center on the ballot was "outdated and not representative of today's game or players." He adds that players have become more versatile and "this ballot will more accurately reflect that versatility."

Teams like Miami (Chris Bosh), Boston (Kevin Garnett) and San Antonio (Tim Duncan) all used forwards as center with great success last season.

The ballot comes out Nov. 13.