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Irving named All-Star reserve
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Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving on Thursday was named an Eastern Conference reserve for next month’s All-Star Game in Houston.
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
As he mingled with Cleveland’s top sports figures, Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving learned he’s an NBA All-Star for the first time.
The dynamic point guard was voted as an Eastern Conference reserve for next month’s game in Houston. The 20-year-old is the first Cleveland player picked for the event since LeBron James was voted in as a starter in 2010. Irving is averaging 23.7 points, 5.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds.
Irving’s selection by the league’s 30 coaches wasn’t a given because of the Cavs’ 11-32 record.
Irving is attending the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards along with Cavs coach Byron Scott, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.
Others
Tim Duncan was selected to his 14th All-Star game, Spurs teammate Tony Parker is joining him, and the Chicago Bulls also had two reserves chosen.
Joakim Noah and Luol Deng were picked from the Bulls, who have stayed in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race despite the season-long absence of point guard Derrick Rose. Noah is one of five first-time All-Stars for the East, along with New York’s Tyson Chandler, Indiana’s Paul George and Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday.
Miami’s Chris Bosh, picked for his eighth All-Star team, rounded out the East squad.
West forwards David Lee (Golden State), LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland) and Zach Randolph (Memphis) all were picked for the second time. Houston’s James Harden was chosen for the first time and joins former Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, headed to his third straight All-Star game.
Duncan wasn’t chosen last year for the first time in his career but has bounced back with a terrific season at age 36, averaging 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots, his best statistics since 2009-10.