HE’S GOT GAME
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry is headed to the all-star game for the third time, this time as a reserve,
In the midst of statistically the best season of his decade-long NBA career, Kyle Lowry is an all-star once again.
The Toronto Raptors point guard will make his third consecutive allstar appearance, voted in as an Eastern Conference reserve by coaches in balloting announced Thursday night.
Lowry joins a guard-laden East team that includes reserves Isaiah Thomas of Boston, Washington’s John Wall and Charlotte’s Kemba Walker. Kevin Love of Cleveland, Paul George of Indiana and Atlanta’s Paul Millsap were also named to the team.
The Western Conference reserves: Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson from Golden State, Utah’s Gordon Hayward, DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins and Marc Gasol from Memphis.
Lowry, who turns 31 in March, is averaging a career best 22.4 points per game, shooting a career-high 42 per cent from three-point range and 52 per cent overall from the field.
Logging 37.3 minutes per game (second in the league to only LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers), Lowry has also dished out 6.9 assists per game and grabbed a career-high 4.8 rebounds per game.
Lowry has started the last two all-star games but was beaten out by Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Toronto teammate DeMar DeRozan in voting among fans, coaches and select members of the media who regularly cover the league.
It will be the second straight year DeRozan and Lowry have been allstar teammates.
Lowry’s impact on the Raptors goes far beyond his numbers, though. Even though Toronto is in the midst of a gruesome five-game losing streak, his leadership and bull-like playing style has led the Raptors to a 28-18 record and second place in the Eastern Conference.
While loading up on guards, Eastern Conference coaches left off rookie sensation Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and perennial all-stars Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Dwyane Wade of the Chicago Bulls.
The Western Conference denied a ceremonial all-star berth to Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, who is injured, and promising big man Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Charlotte’s Walker, East starter Giannis Antetokounmpo and Utah’s Hayward will make making their all-star debuts.
East starter LeBron James will be making his 13th all-star game appearance when the game is played next month in New Orleans.