USA TODAY International Edition
Zion among 4 first- timers to NBA All- Star roster
The NBA welcomed four first- timers to its 2021 All- Star Game.
New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, Chicago’s Zach LaVine, Boston’s Jaylen Brown and New York’s Julius Randle on Tuesday were named All- Stars for the first time.
They are among the 14 reserves – seven from the Eastern Conference and seven from the Western Conference – selected by NBA head coaches.
And don’t worry Damian Lillard fans. Although he was not voted in as a starter by fans, players and media, coaches made sure he was selected as a reserve.
Eastern reserves: Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Brooklyn’s James Harden, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic, LaVine, Brown and Randle.
Western reserves: Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, Phoenix’s Chris Paul, Lillard and Williamson.
LaVine is the Bulls’ first All- Star since 2017, and Randle is the Knicks’ first All- Star since 2018. Harden joins teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, giving the Nets three All- Stars for the first time in franchise history.
At 20 years old, Williamson is the fourth- youngest All- Star behind Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Magic Johnson, and Paul becomes the third player ( Moses Malone and Shaquille O’Neal are the others) to become an All- Star with four teams.
Notable omissions: Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Charlotte’s Gordon Hayward, Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, Atlanta’s Trae Young, Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis and Miami’s Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler in the East; Utah’s Mike Conley, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio’s DeMar DeRozan, Oklahoma City’s ShaiGilgeous Alexander, Houston’s Christian Wood, Memphis’ Ja Morant and Phoenix’s Devin Booker in the West.
The starters were announced last week. The two captains – James and Durant – will select their teams in a draft March 4.