Wesley

	Johnson

	McKie

NEW YORK -- In the NBA, you have to have stars to win, but you better have some good role players, too. They're the grunts. They do the dirty work. They pass. They defend. Some even can score. Sometimes, they make life easier for the stars, but the only way they'll get to see an All-Star Game is if they hit a more famous teammate up for a ticket.

Call them the Unsung All-Stars.

In the East, Philadelphia has two such players who have played major roles in the Sixers racing off to the best record in the league, including a surreal 20-4 road record. While Allen Iverson has had an MVP-type season, Aaron McKie and George Lynch have stood out as two of the top role players in the game. McKie averages 11.9 points while shooting 48.5 percent, a stellar figure for a shooting guard (who, of course, with Eric Snow out is playing more point guard).

	The Knicks have their stars, but former star LJ has been very effective.

"He's really improved his shooting," one Eastern Conference scout said. "He gets a lot of good looks because Iverson draws the defense. But when you look at the injuries that team has had (Snow, Matt Geiger), McKie and Lynch have stepped up big for Larry Brown."

Lynch is one of those kinds of players who does whatever it takes to win. And with the Sixers again boasting one of the top defensive teams in the league, he's perhaps their top stopper.

The Knicks have posted wins over the Spurs (twice), Trail Blazers, Lakers (sans Shaquille O'Neal), Minnesota and Phoenix in trying to stay close to Philly in the Atlantic Division. They feature three scorers in Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell and Glen Rice, but once again, Larry Johnson is the one who Jeff Van Gundy constantly cites as one of his most important players. Johnson's role has dramatically changed since when he first came into the league as a scoring forward.

Van Gundy has come to count on Johnson to make the extra pass and also guard the opposing team's top big man. The Knicks always give Johnson lots of help, but he's proven adept at defending much bigger players, including Portland's Rasheed Wallace and San Antonio's Tim Duncan. In the Knicks' 10-point win against L.A. on Sunday, Johnson pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds.

"You like to have guys who look to pass and rebound and Larry does those things very well," Van Gundy said. "He doesn't get enough credit because there's the perception of what kind of player he is. But that's changed. You never have to worry about guys like Larry and Patrick Ewing, when it comes to the mental preparation and knowing what it takes to win."

	Brown

It's no surprise to Pat Riley that P.J. Brown would make this team. Brown flourished under Riley for four seasons and now is giving the same production to Paul Silas. Brown, one of the top defensive players in the game, is giving the Central-contending Hornets eight points and nine rebounds every night out. His teammate, David Wesley, has emerged as one of the Hornets' go-to players, averaging a career-high 18.8 points, while hitting 45 percent of his shots, easily his top shooting season in Charlotte. Another guard coaches and GM's cited was Orlando's Darrell Armstrong.

The West also has its share of Unsung All-Stars, with three in the Lone Star State. In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley have been getting their share of headlines, as the Mavs are emerging as a playoff team for the first time since 1990. But Steve Nash has put together a monster season in the supporting role. He's averaging 16.9 ppg on 49.9 percent shooting, hitting 41.7 on 3's and dishing off for 7.5 assists a night. All those are career highs, making him the heavy favorite to win Most Improved Player honors. Nash has been helped by playing in Don Nelson's system. The open floor game has allowed the fifth-year guard to break people down.

	Mobley

	Nash

In Houston, Steve Francis is having a season worthy of All-Star recognition. But Cuttino Mobley deserves a berth on the All-Unsung team. Mobley, averaging 18.9 ppg, is a multi-talented offensive player with plenty of athleticism. As one scout said: "He's a very tough cover because of his quickness. And he's the kind of guy who plays hard every night."

In San Antonio, The Twin Towers get all the attention, while Malik Rose is a player opposing teams always have to account for. He's a team-first guy who gives the Spurs maximum effort and the ability to guard more than one position. In only 24 minutes, he's given the Spurs 9.2 ppg and 6.8 rebounds.

	Divac

Sacramento has been the surprise leader over Portland and the Lakers in the Pacific, with Vlade Divac being cited by opposing GM's and coaches as one of the key players for Rick Adelman. The Kings have been led by MVP candidate Chris Webber, the much-improved Predrag Stojakovic and the additions of Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson.

But Divac has made things easier for all of them, because teams still can't leave him alone on the perimeter. He's averaging 10 points on 47 percent shooting. And now in his 12th season, he's still one of the better passing centers, averaging three assists.

Portland's Bonzi Wells should make the team, too. He's the kind of player every team wants, with his ability to get to the basket and score and also as a post-player. Mike Dunleavy loves to post Wells, who's only 6-5 but one of the best athletes around. He's responded with 11.5 points on 53 percent shooting. Defensively, he's given the Blazers loads of effort and a steal a night.

You can play your way off the team, too. Rodney Rogers, last year's Sixth Man Award winner, has played his way off the All-Unsung team mostly because he's been out of the shape most of the way. But in Seattle, Ruben Patterson has played his way onto the squad in his third season. Just 6-5, he's made a habit out of playing bigger.

	Patterson

"He's almost like a power-forward two guard," said one scout. Patterson's still inconsistent as a jump-shooter, but he's given Nate McMillan 13.2 points on 49.9 percent shooting, along with 5.7 rebounds in only 27 minutes. His energy, hustle and ability to defend -- he's helped shut down Kobe Bryant three times as the Sonics have gone 3-0 vs. L.A. -- gives the Sonics a player for the future.

Donyell Marshall has been another unsung hero for the Jazz. Marshall was a major disappointment in his first six seasons, the last five of which were with Golden State. But the former fourth-overall pick of the 1994 draft has found a home and a role with the Jazz. In 25 minutes a night, he's been averaging 11.7 ppg on 48 percent shooting, along with 6.4 rebounds. "He gives Utah another shot blocker," said one scout. "He's long and he can make up for the Jazz's lack of quickness. He's turned out to be a good role guy."

Which is the first requirement to make the All-Unsung all-star team.

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