San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has been chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game as one of seven reserves from the Western Conference.
Both conferences’ reserves were revealed Thursday night on TNT.
Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft and 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, is averaging 24.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and a league-high 3.9 blocks per game in 39 starts for the Spurs this season.
He was one of six players named to his first All-Star Game, joined by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams and Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun from the Western Conference and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro out of the East.
The other Western reserves were Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (third selection), Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (10th), Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (11th) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (second).
The other reserves from the Eastern Conference were Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (fourth), Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (third), Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (second) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (ninth).
The All-Star reserves were voted on by the NBA’s head coaches. The 10 starters, determined by fan, media and player voting, were announced last week:
–LeBron James (L.A. Lakers)
–Kevin Durant (Phoenix)
–Stephen Curry (Golden State)
–Nikola Jokic (Denver)
–Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)
–Jalen Brunson (New York)
–Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland)
–Jayson Tatum (Boston)
–Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
–Karl-Anthony Towns (New York)
East-leading Cleveland is the only team with three All-Stars — Mitchell, Garland and Mobley.
The NBA All-Star Game is shifting to a four-team tournament with a pair of semifinal games and a final, and as a result the “starter” designation is more honorary than practical.
There will be four teams of eight players, with one comprised of the Rising Stars Game champions. The other three teams will be made of 24 total All-Star selections divided among three teams in a draft early next month. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will be the honorary general managers and team namesakes.
The Rising Stars team — made up of the best first- and second-year players and G League stars — will be called Team Candace, for WNBA legend Candace Parker.
The All-Star Draft is scheduled for Feb. 6. The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 16 in San Francisco.
–Field Level Media
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