NBA ALL-STAR TEAMS
EAST
*Carmelo Anthony (New York)
Chris Bosh (Miami) Jimmy Butler (Chicago)
*Pau Gasol (Chicago)
Al Horford (Atlanta)
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland)
*LeBron James (Cleveland)
* Kyle Lowry (Toronto)
Paul Millsap (Atlanta)
Jeff Teague (Atlanta)
Dwyane Wade (Miami)
*John Wall (Washington)
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer
WEST
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland
*Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
*Stephen Curry (Golden State)
*Anthony Davis (New Orleans)
Tim Duncan (San Antonio)
Kevin Durant (OKC)
*Marc Gasol (Memphis)
*Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers)
James Harden (Houston)
Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers)
Klay Thompson (Golden State)
Russell Westbrook (OKC)
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
* - denotes starter
Maybe they should just move the NBA All-Star game to Atlanta.
Three more Hawks joined the All-Star party with the naming of Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague as Eastern Conference reserves Thursday, according to national reports.
The three Hawks starters will be in New York next month for the weekend showcase. They will be joined by Mike Budenholzer and his entire staff who will coach the Eastern Conference, 3-point Contest participant Kyle Korver and Rising Stars Challenge participant Dennis Schroder.
Korver still could be named to the All-Star team as Dwyane Wade was named as a reserve, but is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to participate.
“It’s great for our players to be considered and to have that kind of discussion,” Budenholzer said Thursday before the reserve announcements were made.
“We love for our players to have success and for our players to be appreciated. There is a sense of pride. They work really hard and they do a lot of things that we appreciate and so if other things appreciate them to, that’s a good thing.”
The Hawks, who lead the Eastern Conference by seven games with a 38-8 record, did not have a starter named to the game based on fan balloting. The reserves were selected by a vote of conference coaches.
The Hawks have not had three players named to the All-Star team since 1980 when Eddie Johnson, Dan Roundfield and John Drew played for the winning Eastern Conference.
Horford will make this third All-Star appearance. The center was selected in 2009 and 2010, when he was also named third-team All-NBA. Horford is returning from a torn right pectoral muscle that cost him all but 29 games of last season. After a slow start, he is averaging 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks.
“It’s such an honor,” Horford wrote in a text message to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday night. “I’m grateful and want to thank my teammates and coaches. I will do my best to represent them in New York.”
Millsap will makes his second All-Star appearance, both with the Hawks. He was named a reserve last season and played in the game in New Orleans, where he had six points and three rebounds in an East victory. Millsap leads the Hawks in scoring at 17.2 points and rebounds at 8.1. He is also averaging 3.2 assist, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
“It’s a privilege to be an All-Star for the second straight year,” Millsap said in a statement released by the Hawks. “I know the success our team has had so far this season is a major factor, so my teammates and coaches are the reason that I have this opportunity. I’m proud to be representing them in New York.”
Teague will make his first All-Star appearance. The point guard has increased his scoring average all five seasons in the NBA and is on track to do it again. Teague burst on the national scene with his play in last season’s playoff series against the Pacers. He ranks second on the Hawks in scoring at 17.0 points and leads the team in assists with 7.5 per game. He is also averaging 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
“I’d like to thank the Eastern Conference coaches,” Teague wrote in a text message to The AJC. “Being named to the All-Star team means a lot to me and to my family and I’m going to truly enjoy the entire experience. I’m only as successful as the team so my teammates and coaches share in this honor.”
The 14 reserves in the Eastern and Western Conferences were chosen by the 30 NBA head coaches who voted for seven players in their respective conferences — two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards. They were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.
The All-Star game will be played Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden.
