San Antonio.- For the 15th time in franchise history the Spurs will send multiple players to the NBA All-Star Game, which will be held in Houston this year.
San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were selected by NBA head coaches to play in the 2013 All-Star Game after the fans vote was not enough to get them voted in to play.
This is Duncan’s 14th All-Star selection after he was snubbed last year.
He joins the company of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19 selections), Shaquille O’Neal (15), Kobe Bryant (15), Kevin Garnett (15), Michael Jordan (14), Karl Malone (14) and Jerry West (14) as only the eighth player in NBA history to be named an All-Star 14 or more times.
Duncan was selected as an All-Star in each of his first 13 NBA seasons (there was no All-Star Game held in 1999 due to the NBA lockout), joining Bob Cousy, West and O’Neal as the only players in history to accomplish that feat.
Parker earns his second consecutive All-Star selection and his fifth overall. He is the only player in the NBA averaging 19-plus points and 7-plus assists while shooting .500 or better from the field.
In his four All-Star appearances, Parker has averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.
This season Parker is averaging a team-high 19.8 points, 7.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 32.8 minutes while shooting .520 (338-650) from the field, .392 (20-51) from three-point range and .815 (154-189) from the foul line. He currently ranks eighth in the NBA in assists, 11th in scoring and 20th in field goal percentage.
Other reserves joining Duncan and Parker on the West squad are; LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), David Lee (Golden State Warriors), Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).
The starters for the West are Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwight Howard (L.A. Lakers) and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder).
The starting lineup looks to be a majority L.A.-affair but with Howard’s questionable shoulder it could give Duncan a chance to slide into the starting five.
The Eastern reserves are Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Luol Deng and Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), Chris Bosh (Miami Heat) and Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks).
The Eastern starters are Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (Miami Heat), Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics) and Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks). This year’s game will be played in Houston on Feb. 17 at the Toyota Center.
Dennis M. Ayotte, Jr. is a reporter for La Prensa de San Antonio. He may be reached at dayotte@laprensasa.com.
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