Jaren Jackson Jr: Ja gotta be all starš“
More on All-Star Selections
Duane Rankin: "I don't my hopes up. I'm going to go home with my family, sit down. Plans to take off tomorrow morning to my desination, my off-the-grid desination. So we'll see." Devin Booker on #NBAAllStar chances as Damian Lillard is out with injury (w/video) #Suns bit.ly/37nxkb5 pic.twitter.com/ZTCQXXiyS9
Duane Rankin: Quick takes from #Suns lockerroom. Monty Williams gave Damian Lillard mad props for saying Devin Booker should be considered to replace him as an all-star. Devin Booker said "we'll cross that bridge" several times when asked about if he gets the call to replace Lillard.
With LaVine declining to enter the slam-dunk contest, the Bullsā only representation all weekend will be LaVineās participation in the three-point contest Saturday. Thatās it. Multiple sources have told the Sun-Times the Bulls are not thrilled with how this has played out, and LaVine hasnāt hidden his frustration, either. āYeah, itās upsetting, but you know .ā.ā. we see the way itās got to be,ā LaVine said. āWeāve got to be in the [playoff] hunt [to be considered for All-Star invitations]. Weāre in the hunt a little bit, but weāre not solidified. We had some ups and downs, had some injuries. But like I told you guys in the beginning, [if] we win, we all succeed. So weāll get there, Iāll get there, and I donāt have a doubt in my mind about that.ā
Duane Rankin: "I'm not speaking on that situation anymore." #Suns star guard Devin Booker done talking about #NBAAllStar selection process.
Washington Wizards superstar wing Bradley Beal was considered by many to be the most notable omission from the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. Beal, 26, received All-Star honors the last couple of seasons and, after signing a massive contract extension October, is now scoring more than when he represented the Eastern Conference in 2019 (25.1 ppg) and 2018 (23.6 ppg) as well.
Considering that Beal is such a prolific scorer and the All-Star Game often rewards the players best at getting the ball in the bucket, it was a surprise to see that the former No. 3 overall pick was not included in the exhibition. But when putting his 2019-20 season in context, it raises even more eyebrows for the decision. Beal, averaging a career-best 28.8 points per game, is scoring more than any other All-Star snub in NBA history.
Only three other qualified players who have averaged at least 28.0 points per game (World B. Free, Tiny Archibald and Purvis Short) were not selected to the All-Star Game. Similarly, the last time a player averaged at least 27.0 points per game in a season and did not make the All-Star Game was in 1984-85.
When the NBA announced its All-Star starters and reserves over the last week, center Karl-Anthony Towns wasnāt on the list. Towns had earned that distinction twice over the last two seasons and broke down last season when he found out he had made the team. Towns spoke for the first time about not making the team after Saturdayās 118-106 loss to the Clippers.
āIām worried about our team, about getting W's,ā Towns said. āIām desensitized to being disrespected in this league. Iāve been disrespected since I came in. Itās nothing new when I didnāt see my name up there. When youāre a person whoās been disrespected like me so much, itās something you expect honestly. Youāre kind of shocked when you do get it.ā
When asked is he was going to use this as motivation, as a chip on his shoulder, Towns said he didnāt need it and got in a shot at this yearās game. āIāve had a chip since I came in,ā Towns said. āIām on a journey that goes beyond All-Stars. Iām trying to be the best of the best. I have to go out there and continue to be better and continue to find ways to win for my team and try to build a legacy. āItās unfortunate that this yearās All-Star Game wonāt have the 24 best players in the NBA, but we got to go out there every night and just find ways to win, because itās not about the All-Star game, itās about being in the NBA finals, being in the playoffs, about winning games. Thatās how you build a legacy. All-Star is cool and stuff for the fans, but Iām here for the people in this locker room.ā
Tom Orsborn: DeMar said he's not "bitter" about the All-Star snub but added, "(there's) a lot of guys that sacrifice and do a lot for their team night in, night out and some may not be in the best position win-wise. But don't take away from their skill set and what they bring to the game."
Jeff McDonald: Pop admitted he was surprised DeMar DeRozan did not make the All-Star team in what Pop thinks might be his best season, but understood. "I think our record probably hurt him."
We found out 16 guys have ranked higher in the fan vote than in the players vote every year since 2017. Only two on the list have made the All-Star Game and they are both members of the world-beating Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson and Draymond Green
The largest disparity between player and fan vote happens with Jordan Clarkson, though, which was kind of unexpected.
Gina Mizell: More Williams: āItās a shame. When you look at the system, the way these guys are picked, heās probably a casualty of that. Itās pretty clear that the Western Conference coaches didnāt value what he brought to the table, and thatās disappointing.ā #Suns
Fred Katz: Scott Brooks said today he thinks All-Star rosters should be made up of 13 guys from each conference instead of 12, since active NBA rosters now have 13 guys instead of 12.
Paul George: āFact of the matter is I didnāt deserve to be an All-Star, I didnāt play enough games and I wasnāt out there enough. Honestly, itās nice to have three extra days, Iāll take it with a smile on my face, root Kawhi on from wherever beach we decide to go.ā
KC Johnson: Jim Boylen congratulates 7 EC reserves, calling them well deserving. Then said heās disappointed Zach wasnāt selected. āWe respect the process.ā
David Hardisty: D'Antoni on Russell Westbrook making the All-Star team: "Really, really happy for him. I don't know how many games (it's been that he's played well)... 20, 25. He's played great. He deserves it. A lot of that is heart and desire and that's what he does."
Eric Koreen: Dwane Casey said he voted for Lowry as an All-Star reserve. Gasol and RHJ still out tonight
Eric Woodyard: Giannis says heās disappointed that more Bucks didnāt make the All-Star team. āI want to be honest,ā he said. āI feel like at times that we donāt get as much respect and itās OK, we havenāt earned anything, at the end of the day, I think (Eric Bledsoe) shouldāve made the team.ā
Gina Mizell: Monty Williams on Devin Booker being left off All-Star reserves: āA lot of really good players didnāt make the All-Star team until later on in their career, and they ended up being Hall of Fame-type players. And Devin Booker is certainly going to be a Hall of Fame player.ā #Suns
Jim Eichenhofer: Brandon Ingram on the meaning of his first All-Star selection and his future: "Itās very significant. Of course with the standards of mine and the people around me, there are bigger and bigger things than this, but Iām enjoying this moment right now and very thankful for this.ā
Jim Eichenhofer: Jrue Holiday, after being asked about #Pelicans team role in helping Brandon Ingram become All-Star for first time: "He did that. He carried the team and put us on his back, made big shots, big plays, game-winners. As much credit as weād like to take, heās a really good player."
Sarah K. Spencer: Trae Young on how he can handle all his All-Star weekend activities on top of his already-heavy workload: āIām 21... I think thatās why Iām able to play so many minutes, Iām able to enjoy everything I have going on, because Iām still young. This is still pretty new to me.ā
Scott Kushner: Brandon Ingram said it is āvery significantā for him to be named an All Star and recognizes its meaning. He credited his teammates several times and pointed out Jrue Holidayās unselfishness and Lonzo Ballās friendship in particular.
Kevin Chouinard: Rising Stars Teams announced: pic.twitter.com/shFaeTGG3x
Tim Reynolds: Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn picked for Rising Stars.
Chris Haynes: Zion Williamson has been voted in the Rising Stars Game.
Ian Begley: RJ Barrett named to Rising Stars Game, NBA says.
Chris Fedor: #Cavs Collin Sexton was not selected to participate in Rising Stars Challenge
Chris Haynes: Philadelphia 76ers rookie Matisse Thybulle was not voted in by assistant coaches to be a participant in the Rising Stars Game, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal is clearly miffed by coming up short of an All-Star selection, clearly voicing that anger after the game. He was joined by his fiancĆ©e, who complained during the postgame show after the Wizards beat the Charlotte Hornets 121-107, and so did his agent, who was as outraged as Beal. āInside the NBAā analyst Charles Barkley shot the latter down, saying his agent has no ground to complain or feel upset: āYou mean the agent who let hit him take the most money so he can get the biggest cut? Heās not in a position to complain,ā said Barkley. āThe Wizards are 16-31. Bradley Beal is a good player, but they basically have the same record as the Knicks and the Cavs.ā āHis agent is in no position to complain. He took the maximum extension, he knew they were gonna stink, so [the agent] took the most money he could get also.ā
One more gem from Jokic. He said what he liked most about All-Star weekend was getting to know the other stars personally, including Russell Westbrook. āLike, me and Russ, we were always on the court like a little bit chippy, whatever,ā Jokic said. āAnd All-Star, we were talking like, he was good to me. He was not bad to me.ā
SportsCenter: "A little pissed off about it ... It's disrespectful. ... I'm gonna try and get my team in the playoffs for sure." Strong words from Bradley Beal postgame when he was asked about missing the All-Star game.
Fred Katz: Isaiah Thomas on Bradley Beal not making All-Star: "Itās so political. NBA picks who they want, and thatās just how itās always gonna beā¦They always talk about on winning teams, but then you pick and choose who you want on a losing team. Itās like, pick a side."
Candace Buckner: Bradley Bealās agent Mark Bartelstein rips Eastern Conference coaches for the all-star snub. Bartelstein: āI think theyāve sent a horrible message.ā Mark Bartelstein, Bradley Beal's agent, on Beal being left off the all-star team: "It's unprecedented for a player to have the type of season that Brad is having to not be in the all-star game. And I think the Eastern Conference coaches, I think they've sent a horrible message. I think the Eastern Conference coaches have become robotic in thinking they just have to reward players that are on the winningest teams. The idea of the all-star game is to reward the very best players and Brad made a decision this summer to be loyal to a franchise, to be patient with a franchise and to go through the rebuilding. He could've made the choice to be a bandwagon jumper and just go on and join a higher-level team and he would've been guaranteed in the all-star game. But he didn't want to do that. He wanted to be loyal to his organization and the coaches in the NBA are holding it against Brad that he was loyal to his organization.
Mark Bartelstein: "There's a reason why the players voted him No. 2. The players know and these coaches ā if they're being honest, there's nobody in the Eastern Conference, other than Giannis, that they game plan for harder than they game plan for Brad. That's the reality of it. They game plan so hard to try to take him away. The Wizards are in a rebuilding situation and this wasn't going to be a year where they were going to be a playoff team, and everyone knew it. Yet, he has gone and played his heart out every single night to try to make them as competitive as they can be and coaches have held it against him that he decided to stay the course with the team instead of jumping ship and joining someone's bandwagon and I think that's a terrible message."
Fred Katz: Kamiah Adams, Bradley Bealās finacee, went on the Wizards postgame show with Glenn Consor to talk Beal not making All-Star. "Itās politics and itās a joke,ā she said. "The NBA is becoming laughable in my honest opinion."
Jusuf Nurkic: Man they did u @Devin Booker dirty... š¤¦š»āāļø
Royce Young: With Chris Paul being named a reserve, the Thunder have had an All-Star 11 straight seasons, longest active streak in the league. Theyāve had 18 All-Star appearances since 2010, second most behind only the Heat (19) in that span.
Alex Kennedy: A record eight international players have been selected to the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. Also, this marks the first time in 10 years that at least nine players are first-time All-Star selections in the same season.
Bobby Marks: Rudy Gobert has earned a $1M bonus for being selected as a Western Conference reserve. The bonus is now deemed likely and the Utah center will see his 2020/21 cap hit increase to $27.5M (pending other bonuses).
Despite being named an Eastern Conference reserve, Toronto guard Kyle Lowry will need to play in 29 out of the remaining 35 games to earn a $200K bonus. There is also a $500K bonus as part of the extension signed in October but that incentive only impacts his cap hit in 2020/21.
Marc J. Spears: Captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will draft the #NBA All-Star Game rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. They will draft without regard for a playerās conference or position. TNT reveals the team rosters on Feb. 6.
John Karalis: Tatum on making the All-Star team: āDefinitely it is an honor. I am extremely blessed and grateful. Third year to make the All-Star team it is a surreal feeling. Iām just very excited and it is a dream come true.ā
Jonathan Feigen: Russell Westbrook, twice an All-Star MVP, earned 9th All-Star selection. First Harden teammate in game since Dwight Howard in 2014. In past 20 games, Westbrook averaged 30.8 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists. Overall this season, averaged 26.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists.
Candace Buckner: Scott Brooks before the game on Bradley Beal: "I donāt think I have to defend that heās an all-star. I think I know and I think the coaches know and I know the players definitely know, being voted as second.ā
Evan Fournier: If you look at the East its fair. All these guys are playing really good and are on WINNING teams and thats what being an All Star should be all about. I donāt think you should be an All Star with negative record, doesnāt matter how good you are even if it isnāt fair for some guys
Donatas Urbonas: Domantas Sabonis made it to the NBA All-Star game! Only the 2nd Lithuanian player in NBA history after Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Well deserved!
Tom Orsborn: Nothing official from the NBA yet, but @Shams Charania's report means that for only the third time in the 43 All-Star Games that have been played since the ABA/NBA merger in 1976 ā and for the first time since 1997 ā the elite contest will not include a player from the Spurs.
Connor Letourneau: Itās official: The Warriors have no All-Stars for the first time since 2013.
Shams Charania: Sources: 2020 NBA All-Star reserves: East: Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Domas Sabonis West: Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul
Jeff Siegel: Sabonis has a $1.3 million bonus in his rookie scale extension for making the All-Star Team. Unfortunately, that bonus doesn't count for this year, so he won't get paid out on that, but it will count as likely for next year.
Fred Katz: Scott Brooks on how much time he takes working on his all-star ballot: āEnough time. I look into it. I talk to my assistants. ā¦ Winning does (matter), but itās not the only thing."
Tom Westerholm: Jayson Tatum was asked if it would be a rush to make the All-Star game. āYeah. (It would) feel good to hear some good news."
Scott Agness: Bulls coach Jim Boylen on Domantas Sabonis: āI think he is an All-Star. His play has been terrific.ā All-Star reserves, voted on by the conference coaches, will be announced Thursday evening.
Eric Walden: Donovan Mitchell, on the possibility of being named an All-Star: āItād be an incredible honor, for sure. ... Hopefully Iāll get the call. ... I would love to make it. If I donāt, we have bigger things to focus on. Even if I do make it, we still have bigger things to focus on. pic.twitter.com/wsHKU3eHld
Candace Buckner: Scott Brooks on #Bucks forward Khris Middleton: āMake sure you tell him I voted for him. So he doesnāt take anything out on me, or the (#Wizards).ā
Peter Edmiston: Nuggets coach Mike Malone on Ja Morant: "I think he's a hell of a player but he's not an All-Star yet, in my opinion. He's got to go through his growing pains. He's Rookie of the Year, though."
Josh Lewenberg: Nurse on Lowry-"If that guy isn't on an all-star ballot considering the last 18 months & where our team is, that's unfathomable to me. If anybody that has a decent knowledge of the game would keep him off then, well, it doesn't make sense to me. It wouldn't make any sense at all"
Bam Adebayo has to wait until Thursday to find out if he will be named to his first All-Star Game. Jimmy Butler, however, doesn't need to. "He will be," Butler said Monday after the Miami Heat's 113-92 win over the Orlando Magic at AmericanAirlines Arena when asked if his teammate will be an All-Star this season. "No doubt."
On Thursday, Zach LaVine will find out whether he makes his first All-Star game as a coachesā reserve selection. āZach deserves to be an All-Star,ā executive vice president John Paxson said. āI know we donāt have as many wins as we all would like. But nobody can ignore what he has done and it would be (an oversight) if he doesnāt get recognized.ā
If he doesnāt, LaVine, and the Bulls, will be disappointed. But missing out shouldnāt obscure what is becoming a special season for LaVine. Saturdayās masterpiece of 44 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a road victory over the Cavaliers is just the latest example. With averages of 30 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in January, heāll also draw strong consideration for Eastern Conference player of the month.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra responded swiftly to swingman Jimmy Butler not being selected as a starter for next month's NBA All-Star Game in Chicago, calling his omission "a joke" and adding that he's hopeful it will help change the voting process. "I just think it's ridiculous that we're still in these antiquated positions," Spoelstra said before Friday night's 122-117 loss to the LA Clippers. "So who's to say what position Jimmy is? Does it matter? I put him No. 2 on my [lineup] card. So I go Kendrick Nunn, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, I go Bam [Adebayo] and then Meyers [Leonard]. But you could flip any one of those guys around. And in many ways he's our point guard. So should he be in the All-Star Game as a point guard? I don't know.
Andrew Greif: Paul George has played 26 games. Does Doc Rivers think he has a case to be an All-Star? "Thereās the case by his numbers but it depends on what theyāre going to go by. I typically go by record a lot, so that gives him a boost. Then games played, that probably will hurt him."
Sarah K. Spencer: John Collins on Trae Young being named an All-Star starter: "It's the star power. It just speaks for itself. His ability to be on the team that he's on, play the way he plays and attract the attention he's garnering, it's pretty impressive."
Ira Winderman: Spoelstra, on Adebayo's All-Star chances, "He better be in, by the coaches, with the year that he's having. . . That's an All-Star year by any measure."
Tim Reynolds: Spo thinks All-Star starters should be positionless. Heās right. āThese are such antiquated labels,ā Spo said. He adds that Butler should be a starter. āItās a joke that heās not,ā Spo adds.
Michael Singer: Malone on All-Star vote: āIf (Nikola) wasnāt, this would be the biggest conspiracy since JFK. Iād have to find the Zapruder film.ā Also added, with a bit of Cajun spice: āThereās not many Nikola Jokicās waking around in the NBA in my very humble, uninformed, ignorant opinion.ā
Josh Lewenberg: Pascal Siakam is the first 27th-overall pick in NBA history to be voted in as an All-Star starter. He's the third 27th-overall pick to ever be an All-Star and the first since Dennis Rodman in 1992.
Mario Hezonja: DAMIAN. LILLARD. IS. AN. NBA. ALL. STAR. STARTER! PERIOD.
This moment will last FOREVER! Ice Trae is a starter in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game! (via @nba) - - - - - #TrueToAtlanta 12h
