Millsap earns third straight All-Star berth (updated)
Three for three.
Paul Millsap was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve Thursday, the third straight season the power forward has been honored as a member of the Hawks. The seven reserves in each conference are voted on by coaches their respective conferences.
Hawks center Al Horford was not named as one of the seven reserves in the East.
“It’s great to know that the coaches are watching,” Millsap said. “I put so much hard work into this game that it’s good to see some of it pay off.”
The NBA All-Star Game will be played Feb. 14 in Toronto.
Millsap is the Hawks’ leading scorer at 18.3 points per game and rebounder at 8.9 boards per game. He is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. His 1.9 steals per game ranks ninth in the NBA and his 8.9 rebounds rank 18th, his 1.4 blocks rank 18th, his .493 field-goal percentage ranks 26th and his 18.3 points rank 29th.
“It’s a major accomplishment,” Millsap said. “It’s gratifying. Overall, to win a championship would be great on top of it. But I’ve seen that most guys who make the All-Star team are just guys who are out there playing basketball and trying to win games. I feel like I’m one of those guys.”
Millsap has scored in double-figures 44 games (out of 46 played) and including 21 20-point game. He has 17 double-doubles, including eight 20-point/10-rebound games, which is 19th in the league.
“I’m very happy for Paul,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He is an incredible part of a very good team.”
Several opposing coaches have praised Millsap’s versatility.
“Toughness and versatility,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said of Millsap before Wednesday’s game against the Hawks. “He’s a beast down low in the post. So if you put a smaller guy to chase him around the 3-point line he is going to pound you inside. If you put too big a guy on him he’s going to pull you away from the basket.”
Millsap was never named a Western Conference All-Star in his eight seasons with the Jazz. He is becoming a staple in the Eastern Conference.
Horford has made three All-Star teams, including being one of four Hawks last season. He is second on the team in points (15.2) and rebounds (7.1) per game.
The complete list of reserves are:
East: Millsap, Chris Bosh, Jimmy Butler, Isaiah Thomas, Andre Drummond and DeMar DeRozan.
West: Draymond Green, Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson, James Harden and LaMarcus Aldridge.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
