NBA All-Star blog – Page 11 – NBA Blog

Robert Covington, Matthew Dellavedova and Kostas Papanikolaou added to 2015 Rising Stars Challenge

Robert Covington, Matthew Dellavedova and Kostas Papanikolaou added to 2015 Rising Stars Challenge

Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova and Houston Rockets forward Kostas Papanikolaou have been added to the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 13, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Covington and Dellavedova replace injured U.S. Team selection Michael Carter-Williams of the 76ers and injured World Team selection Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics, respectively. Papanikolaou replaces the Denver Nuggets’ Jusuf Nurkic, who was originally chosen to replace the injured Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder on the World Team. Nurkic is unable to play for personal reasons.

The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2015 features a new format that pits first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against first- and second-year NBA players from around the world.

Covington, who was signed by the 76ers on Nov. 15, 2014, has appeared in 43 games this season, averaging 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds. Undrafted out of Tennessee State in 2013, Covington spent his rookie season with the Houston Rockets and was named the NBA Development League Rookie of the Year for 2013-14, based on his performance while on assignment with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Dellavedova, an Australia native, is in his second NBA season after going undrafted out of Saint Mary’s in 2013. He is shooting 41.1 percent (37-of-90) from three-point range and averaging 4.3 points and 2.9 assists in 20.3 minutes over 39 games, including nine starts.

Papanikolaou, the 48th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft and a native of Greece, spent the past two seasons playing overseas before signing with the Rockets in September 2014. He has appeared in 39 games this season, averaging 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 19.8 minutes.

TNT will exclusively televise the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at 9 p.m. ET. BBVA Compass is the official bank of the NBA in the United States and maintains its role as title partner for the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge.

Jeff Teague reps the Hawks, but also the city of Indianapolis

Jeff Teague reps the Hawks, but also the city of Indianapolis

Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague is putting up 17.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game for the 43-11 squad. He’s been named to the 2015 East NBA All-Star team as a reserve. So of course he reps the Hawks. But he’s also an important basketball figure for his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting:

It’s All-Star Weekend, and while the Pacers don’t have any representatives at this year’s game, there’s one participant that should be of particular interest for Indianapolis basketball fans.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, a Pike grad, was selected to his first All-Star Game after leading the Hawks to the East’s best record, highlighted by a 19-game win streak.

So why should you care about Teague’s selection?

Well, because he’s the first Indianapolis-bred All-Star since George McGinnis in 1979.

Yup, that’s right, it’s been 36 long years since a player from the largest city in a state synonymous with basketball has been an All-Star.

That’s not to say there haven’t been good basketball players to come from Indy during that time. Both Mike Conley (Lawrence North) and Gordon Hayward (Brownsburg) are playing at an All-Star level this season but found cracking the Western Conference roster a task too tall.

Dirk Nowitzki replaces Anthony Davis (injured) on 2015 West NBA All-Star team

Dirk Nowitzki replaces Anthony Davis (injured) on 2015 West NBA All-Star team

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Western Conference All-Star Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Nowitzki, who has posted averages of 18.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in his 17th NBA season, will be making his 13th All-Star appearance. The highest-scoring player born outside the United States in NBA history, Nowitzki surpassed Moses Malone for seventh place on the league’s all-time scoring list last month.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, who earned the right to coach the West squad because the Warriors clinched the best record in the conference through games played Feb. 1, will determine Davis’ replacement in the starting lineup.

Davis was also in the field for the Degree® Shooting Stars during State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night at Barclays Center. His replacement will be named at a later time.

Anthony Davis injured, will not play in 2015 NBA All-Star game

Anthony Davis injured, will not play in 2015 NBA All-Star game

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who is recovering from a right shoulder sprain, released the following statement:

“After careful thought and consideration, I’ve decided I will not be participating in this year’s NBA All-Star competitions. I want to thank the fans for voting me into the All-Star game and I am sorry I will not be able to play.

While I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to compete this weekend, I’m still very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star events in New York and celebrate our game with some of the NBA’s greatest figures.

More than anything, I am anxious to get healthy and back on the court with my teammates after the All-Star break.”

Kyle Korver replaces Dwyane Wade (injured) on 2015 NBA All-Star team

Kyle Korver replaces Dwyane Wade (injured) on 2015 NBA All-Star team

Kyle Korver replaces Dwyane Wade (injured) on 2015 East NBA All-Star team

Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Eastern Conference All-Star reserve Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The addition of Korver, the NBA leader in multiple shooting categories, gives the Hawks a record-tying four All-Stars in a season.

Korver is on pace to post the best single-season shooting performance in NBA history at 51.6% from the field, 52.8% from 3-point territory and 92.0% from the free throw line – aiming to become the first qualifying player ever to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from behind the arc and 90 percent on free throws. The 12-year veteran is averaging 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the 43-10 Hawks.

At 33 years and 11 months, Korver is the fourth-oldest first-time All-Star in NBA history, behind the New York Knicks’ Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (34 years, 3 months in 1957), Minnesota Timberwolves’ Sam Cassell (34 years, 2 months in 2004) and Anthony Mason of the Miami Heat (34 years, 2 months in 2001).

Patrick Beverley replaces John Wall in 2015 Skills Challenge

Patrick Beverley replaces John Wall in 2015 Skills Challenge

Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley will replace Washington Wizards guard John Wall in the 2015 Skills Challenge during All-Star Saturday Night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 14.

As far as we know, Wall hasn’t suffered a new injury. He likely just feels he can use the extra rest and has chosen to not participate. We’ll update this info if it changes, but it probably won’t.

Beverley, in his third NBA season with the Rockets, is averaging 10.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 games. A second-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, Beverley signed with Houston in January 2013 after four-plus seasons playing overseas. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2013-14.

The Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry and the Atlanta Hawks’ Jeff Teague, all selected to play in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden, headline the Skills Challenge field. Defending champion Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Michael Carter-Williams, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Brandon Knight and the Phoenix Suns’ Isaiah Thomas will also compete in the three-round, obstacle-course competition that tests dribbling, passing, agility and shooting skills.

Jusuf Nurkic replaces injured Steven Adams in 2015 Rising Stars Challenge

Jusuf Nurkic replaces injured Steven Adams in 2015 Rising Stars Challenge

Denver Nuggets rookie center Jusuf Nurkic will replace injured World Team selection Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2015 NBA Rising Stars Challenge event that will take place Friday, February 13, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The NBA’s annual showcase of premier first- and second-year players at NBA All-Star 2015 features a new format that pits first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against first- and second-year NBA players from around the world.

Nurkic, the 16th overall pick of the 2014 draft, who was acquired by the Nuggets in a draft-day trade with Chicago, has appeared in 39 games this season, averaging 6.8 points, 6.2 rebounds (second among rookies) and 1.26 blocks (third) in 16.7 minutes. The 20-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina native spent the 2013-14 season playing in Croatia.

Adams underwent successful surgery on Monday to address a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his right hand. In 50 games this season, he has averaged 7.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.22 blocks in 24.3 minutes.

Steven Adams out at least three weeks after hand surgery

Steven Adams out at least three weeks after hand surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams underwent successful surgery today to address a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his right hand, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.

The procedure was performed by Thunder team physicians at McBride Hospital in Oklahoma City. Adams will be re-evaluated in three weeks, at which time a further update will be provided.

In 50 games this season (all starts), Adams is averaging 7.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.22 blocks in 24.3 minutes per game. He was recently selected to participate in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge for a second consecutive season as part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend festivities.

Damian Lillard named to 2015 West All-Star team as replacement for injured Blake Griffin

Damian Lillard named to 2015 West All-Star team as replacement for injured Blake Griffin

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been named a 2015 NBA All-Star by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, the league announced today.

Lillard was the expected pick as an injury replacement on the West All-Star team. DeMarcus Cousins had already been picked to replace the injured Kobe Bryant. Both Lillard and Cousins are having terrific seasons, and it seemed like a toss-up as to which was more worthy. There’s simply a lot of talent in the Western conference this season.

Lillard, 24, is averaging career highs of 21.6 points (42.9% FG, 34.4% 3PT, 85.7% FT), 4.6 rebounds and 1.49 steals to go with a team-high 6.3 assists in 51 games this season. The NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 16, Lillard is one of just five players averaging 21 points and six assists per game.

The NBA’s late-game scoring leader with 311 points in the fourth quarter, Lillard ranks 13th in scoring, 15th in assists and is sixth in 3-pointers (129).

Lillard is playing in back-to-back NBA All-Star games, becoming the fourth Trail Blazer to be selected twice in his first three seasons (Maurice Lucas, Brandon Roy and Sidney Wicks).

This year’s NBA All-Star Game will mark the 10th time the Trail Blazers will feature multiple players in the game, and the second consecutive year the duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Lillard earn All-Star honors.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, who earned the right to coach the West team because the Warriors had the best record in the conference through games played Feb. 1, will determine Griffin’s replacement in the starting lineup.

The 2015 NBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday, Feb. 15, from Madison Square Garden in New York. The game will air live on TNT.

Blake Griffin to undergo surgery for staph infection, will miss 2015 All-Star game

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that All-Star forward Blake Griffin will undergo surgery in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 9 to remove a staph infection in his right elbow. Griffin will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.

Griffin’s procedure is scheduled to be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and assisted by Clippers team physician Dr. Steven Shimoyama.

Griffin, 25, is averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists while shooting 50.1 percent from the field in 35.3 minutes this season and was recently selected to his fifth NBA All-Star game.

Shortly after this news, it was announced that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver picked Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard as Griffin’s injury replacement on the 2015 Western conference All-Star team.