Paul Millsap is going back to New Orleans.
This time as a four-time All-Star.
The Hawks power forward was named a reserve to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for a fourth consecutive year, all with the Hawks. The NBA announced the remainder of the rosters for the All-Star Game on Thursday and Millsap will be the Hawks’ lone representative.
Millsap will return to New Orleans, site of his first All-Star game and in his home state, next month for the league’s midseason exhibition.
Millsap has been the Hawks best player again this season. He leads the team in scoring at 18.0 points per game. The versatile big man is also second in rebounds (8.1), assists (3.8), steals (1.5) and blocks (1.0). Millsap leads the Hawks in minutes played at 34:01, nearly four minutes more than the second-place Dennis Schroder. Millsap has 12 double-doubles this season.
“I want to thank my teammates and coaches for putting me in a position to be successful,” Millsap said in a statement. “Without their support, I know I wouldn’t have this opportunity. I also want to thank the Eastern Conference coaches for appreciating my game and recognizing our team’s success. It’s humbling to be honored again.”
The reserves for both the Eastern and Western Conferences were selected by the league’s coaches. The starters, announced last week, were selected in voting by fans, players and media.
Millsap finished 20th in All-Star fan voting among Eastern Conference frontcourt players with 39,551 votes. He finished tied for 12th in player voting with 13 votes. A total of 324 players took part in the balloting process. Millsap also finished tied for eight in media panel voting with one vote.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said last week that Millsap’s versatility makes his worthy of All-Star status.
“I’m thrilled and proud that the Eastern Conference coaches again recognized Paul as an All-Star,” Budenholzer said in a statement. “To make it four straight seasons is a special accomplishment. I think this honor signifies not only how good he is individually, but also how he makes all of those around him better. Paul deserves to share the All-Star stage with the elite players in our game.”
The All-Star Game will be played in New Orleans on Feb. 19.
The other Eastern Conference reserves are the Hornets’ Kemba Walker, the Pacers’ Paul George, the Cavaliers’ Kevin Love, the Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas and the Wizards’ John Wall.
The Western Conference reserves are the Thunders’ Russell Westbrook, the Jazz’s Gordon Hayward, the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan, the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins, the Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol and the Warriors’ Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
