Jax attacks ‘not beneficial’
Anthony and LeBron James were excused from attending by the NBA. Neither Paul nor Dwyane Wade got an All-Star spot this season, but Paul showed up as president of the Players’ Association to hold a press conference on the new CBA agreement.
With union boss Michele Roberts recently expressing a desire to broker a meeting between Jackson and Anthony, Paul acknowledged it’s not the NBPA’s place to get involved.
“I don’t know if the union can get them together,” Paul said. “That’s their team.”
Asked if he feels for his buddy, Paul responded, “Melo’s an All-Star.”
Of course, not everybody agrees that Anthony should be an All-Star this season. He was given the final spot as an injury replacement by Adam Silver, and some players expressed disapproval that Wizards guard Bradley Beal was passed over.
“The NBA tells us players that winning matter!” Suns forward Jared Dudley, tweeted. “Wizards are the hottest team in the NBA! Bradley Beal is healthy and balling! Damn shame.”
Wizards forward Markieff Morris suggested the league wasn’t basing the selection on merit by tweeting, “POLITICS as USUAL.”
On Friday, Wizards point guard John Wall agreed that Beal was snubbed.
“I think so. I think just on what they tell you in the past, when your team is winning and you’re doing well, you get that nod,” Wall said. “(Beal) has been healthy, he’s playing his best basketball just like I am. We’re probably the hottest team in the league since December. No. 3 in the East. And I feel like he had an opportunity to get that nod and he deserved it.”
East coach Brad Stevens, who coincidentally also coaches the Celtics team that has been contacted about trading for Anthony, said he had zero input into AllStar roster decisions. But he’s happy with the replacement.
“Carmelo’s had a tremendous year. He scores the ball on everybody on every night,” Stevens said. “He’s one of the guys who you play against that you’re legitimately scared of from the time you step on the court.”