The Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were named All-Star reserves on Thursday, while the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks each had two players selected.
The Timberwolves, who top the Western Conference, will be represented by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns in the game in Indianapolis on February 18. Stephen Curry is an All-Star for the tenth time, and the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Phoenix’s Devin Booker fill out the West reserves.
Jalen Brunson was chosen for the first time, with teammate Julius Randle from the Knicks, who went 14-2 in January. Tyrese Maxey of Philadelphia and Paolo Banchero of Orlando were two of the East’s first-round picks, along with Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Boston’s Jaylen Brown.
The West squad is significantly more seasoned. Curry tied Hall of Famer Paul Arizin’s Warriors franchise record for most choices, while Davis and George, who will return to his former NBA home in Indiana, are All-Stars for the ninth time. Leonard is a six-time selection.
The starters were announced last week. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will be joined in the East by Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, and Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The West’s starters include frontcourt players LeBron James of the Lakers, Nikola Jokic of Denver, and Kevin Durant of Phoenix, as well as guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City and Luka Doncic of Dallas.
Head coaches in each conference voted to select the reserves. They were required to select three frontcourt players, two guards, and two other players, regardless of position.
That is insufficient to attract a number of deserving players who put up high numbers in an era where teams are stacking them up weekly. Atlanta’s Trae Young, who averages 27 points and 10.9 assists, as well as Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, the NBA’s leading rebounder, and De’Aaron Fox, were not selected for the game.
The NBA’s top teams, the Celtics and Timberwolves, both hoped for three All-Stars, but neither Boston’s Derrick White nor Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert were selected.
The Wolves had to settle for two All-Stars for the sixth time in franchise history, the first since Towns and Jimmy Butler in 2018.
If any players become injured and are unable to participate, Commissioner Adam Silver selects a replacement. Randle is most likely out due to a dislocated right shoulder, which will keep him out until the All-Star break.
