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Tim good morningESPN
The NBA on Tuesday night announced the reserve selections for next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, a list led by Brooklyn Nets star James Harden, as well as center Rudy Gobert and guard guard Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz League.
Harden, the most valuable player in the NBA in 2018, represents Brooklyn for the first time in what will be his ninth consecutive All-Star appearance. The previous eight came with the Houston Rockets, who traded Harden to Brooklyn as part of a four-team deal last month. From the trade, Harden has averaged 24.9 points and 11.4 assists per game in 18 games with Brooklyn. He will join teammates Kevin Durant, one of the two captains, alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving, who were named starters last week.
In addition to Harden, the other six Eastern Conference teams were: goalie Jaylen Brown and Boston Celtics striker Jayson Tatum; New York Knicks striker Julius Randle; Chicago Bulls keeper Zach LaVine; Ben Simmons, guard of the Philadelphia 76ers; and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic.
Brown, the top-ranked NBA Player of the Year award this season, averages highs in the Celtics’ career, including points (25.5), assists (3.9) and three shooting percentage categories: field goal (49.7), 3 points (40.9) and free throws (76.6), which helps him win his first All-Star selection. Meanwhile, Tatum averages 26.4 points per game, making his second consecutive appearance in the league’s mid-season showcase.
Vucevic will make his second appearance as an All-Star, having made his first season two seasons ago, and has averaged 24.1 points per game in his career and has achieved a better 40% in his professional career from 3 points. Simmons, meanwhile, will make his third consecutive All-Star appearance; the full guard is, along with starter Joel Embiid, a huge reason the Sixers came in on Tuesday with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
They will be joined by a pair of All-Stars for the first time from two of the league’s star franchises to Randle and LaVine, both with years of careers. Randle, who has helped lead the 15-16 Knicks in a startling contention for a playoff spot, averages best runs in virtually every category they play under Tom Thibodeau, while LaVine averages maximums of career of 28.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
Over the past few weeks, there has been intense debate over who would deserve the last couple of seats in the East, with a large group of candidates gaining support. Ultimately, however, the league’s coaches ended up leaving several, including: Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, and striker Jimmy Butler; Milwaukee Bucks striker Khris Middleton; Forward Tobias Harris; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet; Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward Domantas Sabonis; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young; and Charlotte Hornets striker Gordon Hayward.
Outside of West, Gobert and Mitchell were the headliners, as they were the two representatives of the Jazz in Vogue, who entered Wednesday’s showdown against the Lakers on ESPN with the best record in the NBA and having won 20 of his last 22 matches. Gobert, who is in a position to win his third defensive award of the year, makes his second consecutive All-Star appearance this season after a couple of setbacks almost in previous seasons. It is also Mitchell’s second consecutive appearance, having averaged a career-high 24.5 points and 5.2 assists this season.
They were joined by: Portland Trail Blazers goalie Damian Lillard; LA Clippers striker Paul George; Lakers striker Anthony Davis; Phoenix Suns protector Chris Paul and New Orleans Pelicans striker Zion Williamson.
Lillard could easily have been a starter as he has another stellar season, averaging 29.8 points and 7.7 assists and keeping Portland in the playoffs, despite goalie CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic center are out with long-term injuries. George, meanwhile, is back in the All-Star Game for the seventh time after losing it last year, the first in Los Angeles, after injuries delayed the start of his season. Davis, on the other hand, is sure to be replaced by someone before the All-Star Game because of the calf strain he currently has in the Lakers star offside.
The last two places outside of West were for one of the oldest stars in the league to Paul and one of the youngest to Williamson. Paul, whom Phoenix acquired before the season, makes his eleventh All-Star appearance and his second in a row after qualifying last year in Oklahoma City. Williamson, the best overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, makes his first appearance after averaging 25.1 points and shooting more than 60% from the field.
These two overcame a field of candidates for the last couple of places that included: San Antonio Spurs striker DeMar DeRozan; Throne Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; Jazz guard Mike Conley, who continues to hold the unofficial title of best player who never forms an All-Star team; Suns guard Devin Booker; and Pelicans striker Brandon Ingram.
As in recent seasons, the NBA will combine the All-Stars into one set, which will be split into two teams by Captains James and Durant. Jazz coach Quin Snyder will coach James ’team, while Sixers coach Doc Rivers will lead Durant’s squad.
The game will also feature, as last year, the Elam Ending, in which teams play the final score instead of a timed quarterfinal. As last year, this final score will be determined by taking the combined score of the team ahead for three quarters and adding 24 points (in honor of the late Kobe Bryant) to that total.