Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Butler, Adebayo All-Star reserves
Pair of Heat players headed to Chicago for next month’s exhibition
MIAMI — For the first time since the end of the franchise’s Big Three era, the Miami Heat are positioned to offer a double take at the NBA All-Star Game.
A week after Jimmy Butler was bypassed for a starting berth in the combined balloting of fans, players and media, both Butler and Bam Adebayo were named reserves Thursday in balloting by Eastern Conference coaches.
It is the fifth All-Star berth for Butler, who last made it in 2018 while a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It is the first AllStar berth for Adebayo, the 2017
Heat first-round pick out of Kentucky. It also is the 12th time in the franchise’s 32 seasons the Heat have had multiple All-Stars.
The two were among the seven reserves selected by East coaches, in a process that required the addition of at least two additional backcourt players, three additional frontcourt players and two other players at any position, with coaches not allowed to select players from their own roster.
Butler and Adebayo were designated as frontcourt players for the purposes of the voting.
“He deserved it,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley said of Adebayo, one of nine first-time All-Stars.
“I’ve been watching the Heat. They are one of the surprise teams. And obviously Jimmy Butler I felt should have been a starter.
“Bam Adebayo has been fantastic. I didn’t know he was going to be this terrific of a player. The energy level he plays at, I’m just happy for him. Well deserved.”
Also added as Eastern Conference reserves in Thursday’s announcement were Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum and Domantas Sabonis.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Kemba
Walker and Trae Young previously was announced as starters.
Adebayo said Thursday he was confident of getting the nod.
“I feel like I’ve done a lot to this point to deserve to be an All-Star,” he said after Thursday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. “It’s not only me. My teammates notice it, my coaches notice and the other players on the other teams notice it.”
Among those bypassed for selection in the East were Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal, Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick Rose, Eric Bledsoe and Andre Drummond.
The leading vote-getters from each conference, Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, on Feb. 6 will next draft 12-player rosters for the Feb. 16 NBA All-Star Game at Chicago’s United Center, making it possible that Butler and Adebayo are on opposite teams.
Named Thursday as Western Conference reserves were Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul.
James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic and James Harden previously were announced as Western Conference starters.
Among those bypassed from the West were Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul George, DeMar
DeRozan and Ja Morant.
The last time the Heat had multiple players compete in the All-Star Game was in 2014, when the Big Three core of James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade participated.
The Heat’s lone All-Star last year was Wade, who was added as a Commissioner’s selection in honor of his retirement season. The Heat’s lone All-Star in 2018 was Goran Dragic, selected as an injury replacement.
The Heat did not have an All-Star in 2017. In 2016, Chris Bosh was unable to participate, leaving Wade as the Heat’s lone All-Star participant. In 2015, Wade was unable to participate, leaving Bosh as the team’s lone All-Star participant.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel has already clinched the coaching assignment from the Western Conference, to coach James’ squad. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra remains in contention to represent the East and coach Antetokounmpo’s squad.
Injury replacements are named by Commissioner Adam Silver, who typically has taken the player with the most coaches’ votes previously not selected. All-Star coaches determine replacement starters.
Participants in the Rising Stars all-star event for first- and second-year players will be announced Friday at noon by the NBA, with the Heat’s Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson among possible selections. That game will be played Feb. 14 in Chicago.