Goran Dragic ended up getting snubbed. Or left off — depending on your point of view.
The surging Memphis Grizzlies got left out of the All-Star party, too. As did the NBA leader in triple-doubles, Lance Stephenson.
NBA All-Star reserves were announced tonight, and you knew somebody was going to get squeezed. Especially in the West.
The coaches cast the votes, and the reserves in the West are Dirk Nowitzki (Mavs), Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets), LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) and Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers).
It’s the eighth selection for Howard, in his first season with the Rockets, while teammate Harden earns his second straight trip to the All-Star Game. Paul garners his seventh All-Star nod, while Parker is an All-Star for the sixth time in his career. Aldridge captures his third All-Star berth, while teammate Lillard is the lone first-time All-Star among West reserves. Nowitzki is going to the NBA’s showcase event for the 12th time, tying him for sixth-most in NBA history.
In the East, Chris Bosh was named an All-Star for the ninth time. DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Paul Millsap (Atlanta Hawks) and John Wall (Washington Wizards) are first-timers, while Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Johnson earned his seventh selection, and the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert and the Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah are All-Stars for the second time in their careers.
Others falling into the snub category are Stephenson and Kyle Lowry.
Dragic still has a chance, however. Incoming commissioner Adam Silver will choose replacements for injured players, and Kobe Bryant is not going to play. Dragic is averaging 19.7 points and 6.1 assists for the Suns, the most surprisingly successful team in the West.
The starters for the West are Love, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin in the frontcourt, and Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant in the backcourt. With Bryant almost certain to be unable to play because of his knee injury, Western Conference coach Scott Brooks will select his replacement.
The starters for the East are LeBron James, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in the frontcourt, and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the backcourt. They will be coached by Frank Vogel of the Indiana Pacers.
(RELATED: COLUMNIST CHRIS BERNUCCA GIVES HIS PICKS FOR THE MOST WORTHY ALL-STAR RESERVES)
Carmelo anthony says
Article doesn’t make sense. Melo is already a starter..