Jokic makes sixth All-star Game
NEW YORK >> In what has become a shoo-in accolade by now, Nikola Jokic was selected to the NBA All-star Game for the sixth consecutive season.
Jokic was voted in as one of three Western Conference front- court starters, along with Lebron James and Kevin Durant. According to TNT’S Ernie Johnson, Jokic was first place in player voting, first in media voting and second in fan voting behind James.
The 2024 game will take place Feb. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, capping off a weekend of festivities including the usual slam dunk and 3-point contests. On Wednesday, Jokic registered a 31-point triple-double in Indiana, including a game-clinching three with 4.7 seconds remaining.
In his last 13 games entering Thursday night’s
matchup with the Knicks, Jokic has shot 74.2% from the field and 61.1% from beyond the arc and 86% from the foul line. His 79.6% true shooting since Christmas leads the NBA (minimum usage rate of 15%).
The Nuggets center is
averaging 26.2 points, 12 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. He has played in all but one of Denver’s games this season after winning NBA Finals MVP in June, and he has 13 triple- doubles.
The All-star Game is returning to its original for
mat this year, an Eastern Conference roster of 12 players taking on a Western Conference roster of 12. The league is dispensing with the system of the previous six years, when two select captains drafted their teams. The game will also return to its original form of four 12-minute quarters, rather than using a target score in the fourth quarter.
Star ters were announced Thursday night, but reserves have not yet been revealed. Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray is seeking his first All-star Game appearance.