LOS ANGELES, USA – Former Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook and Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry head the list of reserves announced on Thursday, January 31 (Friday, February 1, Manila time) for the NBA All-Star game.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Westbrook received his eighth All-Star selection while Lowry was chosen to his fifth straight game.
Westbrook was the MVP of the 2015 and 2016 All-Star games.
The other reserves include 4 first-time All-Stars comprising Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton.
The Western Conference @NBAAllStar Reserve Pool! @aldridge_12 @AntDavis23 Nikola Jokic @Dame_Lillard @KlayThompson @KarlTowns @russwest44 #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/BHu2JnxiHg — NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2019
The 7 reserves from both the East and West Conferences will join the 10 starters who were announced last week.
There is no East versus West format for this year's game. The players' names will now go into a hat and will be selected by captains LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. (READ: NBA All-Star 2019: Team LeBron vs Team Giannis)
The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors will have 3 All-Stars, with reserve Klay Thompson joining starters Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.
LaMarcus Aldridge's selection as a reserve extends San Antonio's streak of having at least one All-Star to 21 consecutive years, the league's longest active run.
The Eastern Conference @NBAAllStar Reserve Pool! @RealDealBeal23 @blakegriffin23 @Klow7 @Khris22m @VicOladipo @BenSimmons25 @NikolaVucevic #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/LfwuSBvA1P — NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2019
One All-Star missing is Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, who underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a torn right quadriceps tendon.
The All-Star game will be played February 17 in Charlotte, North Carolina. – Rappler.com
