New Orleans striker Zion Williamson can now be called the NBA All-Star and only three others in the game’s 70-year history have reached a younger age.
Williamson is one of four All-Stars awards, all unveiled on Tuesday night, when the League announced reservations for the March 7 game in Atlanta. Joining him as fellow All-Star debutants: Jaylen Brown of Boston, Julius Randle of Knicks and Zach LaVine of Chicago.
Chris Paul of Phoenix is All-Star for the 11th time, and James Harden of the Nets is one for the ninth year in a row. The rest of the reserves include Ben Simmons of Philadelphia, Jayson Tatum of Boston and Nikola Vucevic of Orlando of the Eastern Conference, along with Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and Portland’s Damian Lillard of the Western Conference.
“It’s definitely an honor,” Mitchell said.
Los Angeles Lakers captains LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets Kevin Kevin will draft their teams next week, with the lists set to be revealed on March 4th. and a media panel.
The reserves were chosen by vote by the main coaches of the league.
“Do your best,” said Orlando coach Steve Clifford. “It’s not easy.… Every year, it’s hard and when you look at the year in the East, there were several guys who are worthy of doing it. So it’s difficult every year.”
Trae Young of Atlanta, an All-Star last season, is not one this year, despite the fact that the average entered on Tuesday, 26.9 points, most of which was not selected. Miami strikers Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler did not make any cuts, nor did Devin Booker from Phoenix.
“Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in our league !!!! Simple, “James wrote on Twitter.
Mike Conley of Utah – someone from the Jazz, leader in the NBA, desperately wanted to get there for what would have been the first time – also missed his head.
“For a guy like him who has done so many things in his career, on and off the floor, it’s worth it,” Mitchell said of Conley.
There are not enough coaches to agree. There are still chances for Conley, as Davis is likely to miss the game due to injury. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will choose any injury replacement; a bowing player will be replaced by someone else from that conference.
Williamson is 20 years old and only Kobe Bryant, James and Magic Johnson were younger at the All-Star debut. There were six other 20-year-olds chosen for the All-Star Games in the past, but they were all closer to the age of 21 at the time than Williamson is now.
Randle was the best player for the Knicks, who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Brown has an average of 25.5 career points for Boston. And LaVine has been to the All-Star weekend many times, winning two dunk contests and an MVP award at Rising Stars. But this will be the first time in the All-Star game.
James and Durant will choose eight other starters for their teams for the first time in the draft: Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, Bradley Beal of Washington, Stephen Curry of Golden State, Luka Doncic of Dallas, Joel Embiid of Philadelphia, Kyrie Irving of Brooklyn , Nikola Jokic of Denver and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers.