The third time was therefore the right one. Passed by in 2017 and 2019, pivot Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) has been selected to compete in the All-Star Game of February 16 in Chicago, becoming the third Frenchman since Tony Parker and Joakim Noah to know this honor, announced Thursday by the NBA . It was on the TNT channel that the names of the 14 replacements chosen by the coaches of the thirty franchises were made official.
The other players chosen in the West are Damian Lillard (Portland), Donovan Mitchell (Utah), Nikola Jokic (Denver), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans), Russell Westbrook (Houston), Chris Paul (Oklahoma City). In the East were summoned Jimmy Butler (Miami), Kyle Lowry (Toronto), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee), Jayson Tatum (Boston), Bam Adebayo (Miami), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana).
Best Defender in the NBA
Gobert, 27, who could not hold back his tears when commenting on his non-selection for the 2019 edition, can savor having finally been considered at fair value. For the past two seasons, he has been named the league's best defenseman. With Donovan Mitchell, also selected for the first time, he has a lot to do with the very good season of Jazz, currently 4th in the Western Conference, in the fight with the Clippers and Denver, and behind the Lakers.
In 45 matches played this season, he is progressing in several areas, including the rebound with 14.6 catches and an average shooting percentage of 68.6% for 15.7 points per match.
"This guy is an All-Star !! Everything is poooo possible! Proud of you @ rudygobert27 !!", congratulated Evan Fournier, his team-mate in France and Orlando player. "Gobzilla" succeeds Tony Parker, six times selected, and Joakim Noah, twice called.
New generation
These "replacements" are in addition to the ten incumbents already known for a week after the vote of the public, players and journalists. A list that includes West LeBron James (Lakers), Luka Doncic (Dallas), Kawhi Leonard (Clippers), Anthony Davis (Lakers), James Harden (Houston) and East Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Pascal Siakam ( Toronto), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Kemba Walker (Boston), Trae Young (Atlanta).
February 6 will be known the compositions of "Team LeBron" and "Team Giannis", according to the choices in turn of James and Antetokounmpo, without taking into account the conference to which the players belong. Among the "unfortunate" non-selected include Paul George (Clippers) and Devin Booker (Phoenix), Bradley Beal (Washington) or Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota).
This 70th All-Star Game will see a renewal of generations since nine players will know their first selection: three directly from the incumbents, Doncic, Siakam and Young, and six from the substitutes, Gobert, Mitchell, Ingram, Adebayo, Tatum and Sabonis.
This year's big NBA basketball party will also be marked by multiple tributes to Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who died with daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash Sunday near Los Angeles.
- NBA
- Basketball
- Sport