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Tim BontempsESPN
On Tuesday-evening, the NBA announced the reserve selections for next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, a list that includes protagonist James Harden of Brooklyn Nets and center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell of the leading Utah Jazz.
Harden, the NBA’s most valuable player 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 last month as part of a four-team deal. Since the exchange, Harden has averaged 24.9 points and 11.4 assists per game in 18 games with Brooklyn. He joins teammates Kevin Durant – one of the two captains, alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James – and Kyrie Irving, who were both chosen as starters last week.
In addition to Harden, the six other selections from the Eastern Conference were: guard Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle; Chicago Bulls Guard Zach LaVine; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons; and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic.
Brown, the leader for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award this season, has averaged career heights across the board for the Celtics, including points (25.5), assists (3.9) and all three shooting percentage categories: field goal (49 , 7), 3-points (40.9) and free throw (76.6), which earned him his first All-Star squad. Tatum, meanwhile, has averaged 26.4 points per game in his career and is making his second consecutive appearance in the league’s mid-season showcase.
Vucevic will make his second All-Star appearance, having made his first two seasons ago, averaging 24.1 points per game in his career, shooting a 40% career best from a 3-point range. Simmons, meanwhile, will make his third consecutive All-Star appearance; the well-rounded watch, along with starter Joel Embiid, is a big reason why the Sixers came in on Tuesday with the Eastern Conference’s best record.
They will be joined by a pair of new All-Stars from two of the league’s flagship franchises in Randle and LaVine, both of which are making careers. Randle, who helped lead the 15-16 Knicks in a surprising battle for a playoff berth, averages career records in nearly every category under Tom Thibodeau, while LaVine averaged 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 earn the last few spots in the East, with a large pool of candidates rallying support. In the end, the league’s coaches ended up leaving some of them behind, including: Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo and forward Jimmy Butler; Milwaukee Bucks ahead of Khris Middleton; 76ers forward Tobias Harris; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet; Indiana Pacers guards Malcolm Brogdon and directs Domantas Sabonis; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young; and Charlotte Hornets sends Gordon Hayward forward.
Out West, Gobert and Mitchell headlined as they were the two representatives of streaking Jazz, who will face the Lakers on ESPN on Wednesday with the NBA’s best record, winning 20 of their past 22 games. Gobert, who is positioned to win his third prize for Defensive Player of the Year, is making his second consecutive All-Star appearance this season after a few near misses in previous seasons. It is also the second consecutive appearance of Mitchell, who averaged 24.5 points and 5.2 assists this season.
They were joined by: Portland Trail Blazers security guard Damian Lillard; LA Clippers forward Paul George; Lakers forward Anthony Davis; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
Lillard could easily have been a starter as he has another great season averaging 29.8 points and 7.7 assists keeping Portland in the playoffs, even though his guard CJ McCollum and center Jusuf Nurkic are out with long injuries. George, meanwhile, is back in the All-Star Game for the seventh time after missing it last year, his first in Los Angeles, after injuries delayed the start of his season. Davis, on the other hand, will almost certainly be replaced by someone ahead of the All-Star Game due to the calf tension currently sidelining the Lakers star.
The last two places from West went to one of the oldest stars in the competition in Paul and one of the youngest in Williamson. Paul, who acquired Phoenix for the season, will make his 11th All-Star appearance and his second in a row after making the roster for Oklahoma City last year. Williamson, the top pick in the 2019 NBA draft, makes his first appearance after averaging 25.1 points and shooting more than 60% of the field.
Those two beat a field of candidates for the last few places, including: San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan; Thunderguard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; Jazz guard Mike Conley, who still holds the unofficial title of best player to never form an All-Star team; Sun Watch Devin Booker; and Pelicans command Brandon Ingram.
As in previous seasons, the NBA will combine the All-Stars into one pool, which will be divided into two teams by captains James and Durant. Jazz coach Quin Snyder will coach James’s team, while Sixers coach Doc Rivers will lead Durant’s squad.
The game, like last year, will also feature the Elam Ending, in which the teams play to a final score instead of a timed fourth quarter. Just like last year, that final score is determined by taking the combined score of the team that is three quarters ahead and adding 24 points – in honor of the late Kobe Bryant – to that total.