NBA coaches select Victor Wembanyama as an All-Star for the first time, making him the fourth Spurs player to achieve this feat in his first or second season. Wembanyama is now one of 14 players selected as reserves for the Feb. 16 event in San Francisco. He is an All-Star for the first time, joining the likes of Alvin Robertson, David Robinson, and Tim Duncan.
Seven players were picked from each conference, with Wembanyama representing the Western Conference. The other players selected include Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Jaren Jackson Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Jalen Williams. The Eastern Conference selections are Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Damian Lillard, and Tyler Herro.
The 10 starters were previously announced, with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James being some of the notable selections. New York, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, Boston, and Milwaukee have multiple representatives. Golden State, Phoenix, Denver, Minnesota, and San Antonio have one representative each.
The new All-Star format includes a three-team tournament, with teams drafted by Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith. The games will be played on February 16, with the winners advancing to the championship game. The league hopes that this format change will make the games more competitive, following last year’s record-breaking scoring game.
Notable players who did not make the cut include LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, and Luka Doncic, who has only played 22 games due to injuries. If they maintain their current statistics and play enough games, they would be the only players to have achieved this feat and not make the All-Star Game. Commissioner Adam Silver has the power to name injury replacements if necessary.