Jazz's Conley earns first NBA All-Star selection after replacing injured Booker
Sacha Pisani
March 6, 2021 02:11 MYT
March 6, 2021 02:11 MYT
The Utah Jazz's Mike Conley will participate in this weekend's NBA All-Star Game after Devin Booker withdrew due to injury.
Booker had replaced injured Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis for Sunday's game between Team Durant and Team LeBron, but the Phoenix Suns guard has succumbed to a left knee sprain.
It has paved the way for Conley to earn his first All-Star selection as chosen by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, with the 33-year-old Jazz point guard replacing Booker on Team Durant.
Conley is into his 14th NBA season – it is the latest into a career (by seasons played) that a player has ever made his first All-Star team, per Stats Perform.
@utahjazz Guard @MCONLEY10 has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker on #TeamDurant in the 2021 #NBAAllStar Game. pic.twitter.com/5q8E6j0i9o — #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) March 6, 2021
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He will also step in for Booker in the three-point contest, which will take place before the All-Star Game on Sunday.
Conley is averaging 16.1 points and 5.7 assists per game, while he is shooting a career-high 42.2 per cent from three-point range in 29 games this season as the Jazz (27-9) lead the NBA.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Washington Wizards sharpshooter Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics are the Team Durant starters.
The reserves drafted by Durant are James Harden (Nets), Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Julius Randle (New York Knicks), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic) and Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), with Conley joining that list.
Mike Conley: #NBAAllStar Congratulations, @MCONLEY10!!! pic.twitter.com/aXzMNgY1Da — utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 6, 2021
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Team LeBron is headlined by Lakers superstar LeBron James, two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and the Denver Nuggets' MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.
Team LeBron's reserves are Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Ben Simmons (76ers), Chris Paul (Suns), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Paul George (Clippers), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers) and Rudy Gobert (Jazz).
Team LeBron have won the past three All-Star Games after topping Team Giannis 157-155 in Chicago last year.