OKLAHOMA CITY’S RUSSELL Westbrook — who is averaging a triple double for the season — was snubbed for a starting spot in next month’s NBA All-Star Game.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to last season’s NBA title, were named to the Eastern Conference starting five while Golden State teammates Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were voted onto the Western Conference opening lineup.
The 66th NBA All-Star Game will be played on 19 February in New Orleans.
A revamped selection format took 50% from fan voting, which concluded on Monday, and 25% each from player and media ballots. Out of more than 38 million fan votes, James was the overall winner with 1.89 million votes, while Curry had 1.84 million, Durant 1.77 million and Irving 1.69 million.
Westbrook leads the NBA with 30.6 points a game, ranks second with 10.4 assists a game, and pulls down 10.6 rebounds a contest as he tries to become only the second player to average a triple double for an entire campaign after Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 season.
He was level with Curry and Houston’s Harden in the weighted point totals but lost out based on fan ballot totals that served as the tie-breaker. Curry and Harden with 1.77 million were more popular with fans than Westbrook with 1.57 million.
“Dude averaging a triple double and not starting in the all star game is wild,” tweeted Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons.
Others were just as surprised. Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers called it “fake news” and said he can’t understand why the fans didn’t vote the way the players and the media did.
Joining Westbrook’s former Thunder teammate Durant in the starting West frontcourt will be San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans center Anthony Davis, who will be playing on his team’s home court.
In the Eastern Conference, forward James and guard Irving will be joined by Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler and Milwaukee center Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece — the first Bucks All-Star starter since 1986.
The All-Star reserve players, selected by NBA coaches and almost certain to include Westbrook, will be announced on 26 January.
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I think the Ireland under 17′s need a new right back….
Good to see a Parkrun pic. You should do an article, a series of articles maybe. Send your writers out to different events..
@Seamus Quinn: great idea for a great idea! parkrun’s are happening all over Ireland now and are a fantastic inclusive community event