Tonight at 8 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
in Indianapolis, IN on both TNT and TBS, the National Basketball Association
(NBA) will close out its unofficial midseason celebration weekend with its annual
unofficial midseason classic with the 73rd Annual NBA All-Star Game.
It will feature 24 of the top players on the planet selected by the fans,
players, and coaches. The game will feature two of the game’s current icons,
with one of them making NBA All-Star Game history. It will also feature a four
first time All-Stars, all from the Eastern Conference and several returning
that are the game’s present and future as the unofficial midseason classic
returns to the traditional Eastern Conference versus Western Conference matchup.
Eastern Conference All-Stars
East Starters
Starting for the Eastern Conference will
be Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.8 ppg-3rd NBA, 11.2 rpg-6th
NBA, 6.4 apg, 61.6 FG%-9th NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks (35-21
Record-No. 3 East).
This is his eighth All-Star selection in
his 11th NBA season, where he has registered 31 30-plus point games,
including six 40-plus point games. The man nicknamed “The Greek Freak,” also
has accumulated 43 double-doubles, including a career-high and single-game
Bucks record of 64 points with 14 rebounds and four steals on 20/28 from the
floor and 24/32 at the free throw line in the Bucks 140-126 victory Dec. 13,
2023 versus Indiana Pacers.
The other starting forward is Jayson Tatum
(27.1 ppg-9th NBA, 8.6 rpg, 4.8 apg-career-high, 47.5
FG%-career-high, 36.3 3-Pt.%) of the Boston Celtics (43-12 Record-Leads East).
Earning his fifth consecutive All-Star
selection in his seventh NBA season, has registered 20 games of 30-plus points,
including three 40-plus point performances.
“You never want to take it for granted
right,” Tatum said to TNT’s Allie LaForce before the Celtics’ 143-110 victory
back on Jan. 27 when he learned of his fifth All-Star selection.
“There’s 450 guys in the league and for
the fans to, you know, consistently vote me, you know it’s truly an honor and
something I don’t take for granted, right?”
“I grew up
wanting to be at All-Star Weekend every year. And to live out that dream
in real time is pretty cool. So, I’m very grateful and thankful for that and
excited.”
Anchoring the backcourt for the East
starters is unofficial host of All-Star weekend representing the Pacers (31-25
Record-No. 6 East) is Tyese Haliburton (21.8 ppg, 11.7 apg-Leads NBA, 49.2 FG%,
40 3-Pt.%).
This will be his second straight All-Star
selection, that he earned behind career-highs in scoring and assists and
three-point percentage. He already has 31 double-doubles, one shy of 32 he had
all last season. Those 31 double-doubles includes his first career triple-double
of 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds on 10/18 shooting, including 5/11
from three-point range in leading the Pacers to a 122-112 victory on Dec. 4, 2023
versus Celtics during the league’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.
Haliburton’s second All-Star experience
has been a memorable one so far as just 24 hours before during All-Star
Saturday Night at the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts of Lucas Oil Stadium
he and teammates Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner lead Team Pacers to a
victory in the 2024 Kia Skills Challenge.
Joining Haliburton in the East’s starting
backcourt is the Bucks Damian Lillard (24.6 ppg, 6.7 apg), who earned his
eighth All-Star selection in his 12th NBA season, his first with the
Bucks after playing his first 11 NBA seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
While his shooting splits have not been up
to par (42.3 FG%, 34.1 3-Pt.%) like it was his first 11 NBA seasons in “Rip
City,” he is averaging 20-plus points for the 11th straight season,
including 24-plus points for the ninth consecutive season.
In his first season with the Bucks,
Lillard has so far registered 14 30-plus point games, including two 40-plus point
games and seven double-doubles.
Lillard, 32 two came up aces during
All-Star Saturday night winning his second straight Starry Three-Point contest.
While he will be unavailable to play in
the league’s unofficial midseason classic due to an injured knee that required a
medical procedure, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers (32-22 Record-No. 5
East) earned his seventh consecutive All-Star selection in his 10th
NBA season behind a career-high scoring average of 35.3 points, his third
straight season averaging 30-plus points. He also averaged in his 34 games
played so far in 2023-24 of 11.3 rebounds, a career-high 5.7 assists and 1.8
block shots on 53.3 percent from the floor, 36.6 percent from three-point range,
and 88.3 percent at the foul line on a career-high 11.9 attempts.
From Nov. 17, 2023 to Jan. 25, 2024,
Embiid scored 30-plus points in 22 consecutive games, the fifth longest such
streak in NBA history and the longest streak in 76ers history.
During that streak, Embiid registered a career-high and single-game franchise record of 70 points with 18 boards and five assists on 24/41 from the floor and 21/23 at the charity stripe in the 76ers 133-123 victory Jan. 22, 2024 on NBATV.
East Reserves
Leading the East reserves is Tatum’s teammate
from the Celtics Jaylen Brown (22.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 49.2 FG%), who is averaging
20-plus points and at least five boards for the fifth consecutive season in
earning his third All-Star selection in his eighth season. He has registered 10
30-plus point games so far this season.
Most Points Through Age 27 In Celtics
History (*Hall Of Famer)
Paul Pierce* 12,086
Jayson Tatum 11,276
Antoine Walker 10,995
Jaylen Brown 9,527
Larry Bird* 9,022
Consecutive Seasons Averaging 20-Plus
Points In Celtics History (*Hall Of Famer)
Larry Bird* 9
1979-88 Jayson Tatum 5 2019-Present
John Havlicek* 8 1966-74 Jaylen
Brown 5 2019-Present
Paul Pierce* 7 2000-07 Kevin
McHale* 5 1985-90
Brown like Haliburton, and Lillard also
was part of the All-Star Saturday night festivities where he competed in the
2024 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, which Brown was defeated by repeat champion
from the NBA G League’s Osceola Magic.
Brown though during the final round of the
contest performed his first two dunks wearing the high school jersey of
Terrance Clarke, the 19-year-old young man who passed away in a car crash three
months before the 2021 NBA Draft. During that June’s draft, Clarke was drafted
posthumously by the NBA in the First-Round.
Earning his fifth All-Star section in his
seventh NBA season was Donovan Mitchell (28.4 ppg-5th NBA 6.3 apg,
5.4 rpg, 47.3 FG%, 36.1 3-Pt.%) of the Cleveland Cavaliers (36-17 Record-No. 2
East).
The 27-year-old Mitchell is averaging
career-highs in rebounding and assists, while registering a career-high six
double-doubles and totaling 11 double-doubles in his first one-plus seasons in “The
Land.” To put that into context, Mitchell only totaled seven double-doubles in
his first five seasons with the Utah Jazz.
He has also totaled 19 games scoring
30-plus points, including five 40-plus point games.
Most 40-Plus Point Games In Cleveland Cavaliers
History: Top Three
LeBron James 51 In 11 Seasons
Kyrie Irving 18 In 6 Seasons
Donovan Mitchell 11 In One-Plus Seasons
Joining the Celtics with two All-Star sections
is the New York Knicks (33-22 Record-No. 4 East) with Jalen Brunson (27.6 ppg-7th
NBA, 6.5 apg, 48.3 FG%, 41.1 3-Pt.%), who earned his first All-Star selection
in his sixth NBA season and Julius Randle (24.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 47.2 FG%),
who earned his third All-Star selection in his ninth NBA season.
Brunson, who signed with the Knicks last
offseason has risen them to being a serious threat in the Eastern Conference behind
career-highs in scoring and assists. He has totaled eight of his 21 career
double-doubles in his first one-plus seasons with the Knicks.
The 27-year-old Brunson, who is the first
Knicks guard to be named an All-Star since Allan Houston since 2001 has totaled
so far this season 22 30-plus point games, five more than what he had all of
last season of 17 30-plus point games, including five of his nine career
40-point games for Brunson have come this season.
One of Brunson’s five 40-plus point games
came on the night he was selected as an All-Star reserve scoring 40 points on
15/30 from the field and 9/11 at the foul line in the Knicks 109-105 triumph
Feb. 1, 2024 versus the Pacers.
During his postgame interview with Madison
Square Garden Network’s Alan Hahn, Brunson heard MVP chants from Knicks nation
in the arena that brought him to tears and said to Hahn, “That was fun. That
was fun. I’ve got nothing to say. I’ve got nothing to say.”
Brunson said about that moment with Turner
Sports Taylor Rooks, “I think everything kind of all hit at once.”
“There’s no sporting venue that has the
same electricity. Whatever goes on in that building. It’s always iconic. So the
fact that I get to call it my home, it’s an amazing feeling. You can’t really
put it into words. When you’re there, you just look up and you’re like, ‘Wow. I’m
in this place.’”
Highest Scoring Average For A Season In
Knicks History
PPG
Bernard King 1984-85 32.9
Richie Guerin 1961-62 29.5
Carmelo Anthony 2012-13 28.7
Patrick Ewing 1989-90 28.6
Jalen Brunson 2023-24
27.6
Fewest Games To Reach 3,000 Career Points
In Knicks History (*Hall Of Famer)
Bob McAdoo* 113 Games
Jalen Brunson 118 Games
Carmelo Anthony 118 Games Bernard King*
126 Games
While the nation may be coming to know the
greatness of Brunson, this is something that he was not shocked by, especially
because he put in the work to get to this point helped by his father in former
NBA player and now Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
Brunson in an interview with TNT’s Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal on Thursday night at the start of All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, IN said he found out earned his first All-Star selection as a reserve after he took the floor at Madison Square Garden and heard some fans yelling that he was named an All-Star and then Brunson’s dad came on the hardwood and looked at his kid nodding his head letting him know he made the East All-Star squad.
“I think he was excited,” Brunson said
when O’Neal asked how excited he and his dad were about the Knicks lead guard
being named a first-time All-Star. “He didn’t show me how excited he was. But I
always hear the snippets from my mom when he goes back home with her. I just
knew that deep down he was happy. But we had a game that day. So, we were
locked in. But I knew he was happy.”
The one disappointing part for Brunson is
he will take the hardwood on Sunday night without Randle, who will be on the
shelf for his third All-Star selection (2021 2023, 2024), all as Knick because of
a dislocated right shoulder sustained in the Knicks 125-109 victory Jan. 27,
2024 versus the Miami Heat.
Randle before his injury registered 10
30-plus point games and 18 double-doubles on the season. He is expected to
return before the end of the regular season.
Representing the Heat (30-25 Record-No. 7
East) in the league’s unofficial midseason classic is Bam Adebayo (20.2 ppg
10.6 rpg-7th NBA, 51.0 FG%, who
earned his second straight All-Star selection and third overall in his seventh
NBA season. He will replace Embiid in the starting lineup for the East.
Adebayo, 26 is averaging a career-high in
rebounds per game, while averaging 20 points for the second straight season. He
has registered 30 double-doubles on the season. It is the fourth time in the
last five seasons he has totaled at least 30 double-doubles.
The Sixers will be represented on Sunday
night by first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey (25.7 ppg, 6.4 apg, 44.9 FG%, 37.8
3-Pt.%) in his fourth NBA season.
Alongside Embiid, Maxey’s emergence is a
big reason why the Sixers have turned heads this season behind his 14 30-plus
point games, that includes three of his four career 40-plus point games and
both of his career 50-point games.
Maxey’s first 50-point performance in the
Sixers’ 137-126 victory Nov. 12, 2023 versus the Pacers where he scored 50 on
the nose with five assists and seven rebounds on 20/32 from the field, including
7/11 from three-point range.
His second came on the night he was named
an All-Star with a career-high of 51 points on 17/27 from the floor, including
7/9 from three and 10/11 from the foul line in the Sixers 127-124 close win
Feb. 1, 2024 versus the Utah Jazz on TNT.
The Orlando Magic (30-25 Record-No. 8
East) are in position for their first postseason appearance since 2020 thanks
to first-time All-Star Paolo Banchero (23.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.3 apg, 46.2 FG%,
36.5 3-Pt.%).
The 21-year-old reigning Kia Rookie of the
Year, who is the Magic’s first All-Star selection since now Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic in 2021 has risen his numbers
across the board and has improved his shooting stroke overall.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2023 out of Duke
University has registered 37 20-plus point games after totaling 40 a season
ago. That also includes nine of his 15 career 30-plus point games.
Banchero has also registered both of his career
40-plus point games, all be in defeat.
In the Magic’s 121-111 defeat Dec. 6, 2023
at the Cavaliers, Banchero scored a then career-high of 42 points on 16/26 from
the field and 9/12 at the charity stripe.
Three days into this new year, Banchero
set a new career-high of 43 points on 13/25 from the floor, including 6/9 on his
triple tries and 11/14 at the foul line in the Magic’s 138-135 double-overtime
setback Jan. 3, 2024 at the Sacramento Kings.
This game will also feature the Kia Rookie
of the Year from two seasons back in Scottie Barnes (20.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 6.0
apg, 1.5 blks, 47.3 FG%, 35.3 3-Pt.%) of the Toronto Raptors (19-36 Record-No.
12 East).
The 22-year-old, No. 4 overall pick in June
2021 out of Florida State has registered career-highs in points, rebounds,
assists, blocks, field goal, three-point percentage and made threes. He also
has 21 double-doubles on the season and three of four career triple-doubles.
In terms of scoring, Barnes has registered
32 20-plus point games, including six of his eight career 30-plus point games.
While the Atlanta Hawks (24-31 Record-No.
10 East) have had an underachieving season, they will be represented at the
2024 All-Star Game by their star floor general Trae Young (26.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg-2nd
NBA, 37.1 3-Pt.%), the other injury replacement for the East All-Stars.
Young on the season is averaging 20 points
and 10 assists for the second consecutive season, joining Haliburton as the
only players to average 20 points and 10 assists on the season.
Young has registered 35 double-doubles on
the season, the fourth time in his six-year career he has registered at least
30 double-doubles.
Of those 35 double-doubles, Young has 29
games of at least 30 points and 10 assists and has 77 such games in his career.
Most Career Games Of 30-Plus Points And 10
Assists In NBA History: Top Six (*Hall Of Famer)
Oscar Robertson* 230 Russell Westbrook (LAC) 84
James Harden (LAC) 101 Trae
Young (ATL) 77
LeBron James (LAL) 98
Nate Archibald* 76
Young also participated in All-Star
Saturday Night as part of the 2024 Kia Skills Challenge alongside Maxey, and
Barnes.
Young also participated in the Starry Three-Point Contest making it to the final round.
Western Conference All-Stars
West Starters
On Sunday night, history will be made at
the 73rd NBA All-Star Game when Los Angeles Lakers (30-26 Record-No.
9 West) superstar LeBron James (24.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 7.8 apg, 52.0 FG%, 38.5
3-Pt.%) will be playing in the unofficial midseason classic for the 20th
straight season. James’ scoring average is the highest in NBA history by a
player in their 21st NBA season.
The four-time NBA champion, four-time Kia
MVP, and four-time Finals MVP will surpass Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
for the most All-Star selections in NBA.
“The week is a lot. It’s a lot. It’s a
lot, you know? But I’m definitely having a lot of fun with it. It’s 20 of them [All-Star
appearances] for me. Just super honored to be here once again representing this
league. Representing my family. That’s the most important thing for me. It
never gets old. Never gets old.”
James, who has won All-Star Game MVP
three-times (2006, 2008, and 2018) will be making his 20th straight
start in the NBA All-Star Game, also an NBA record. He is the game’s all-time
leader in points (426), minutes (521), and field goals made (172) and attempted
(334).
The Most All-Star Game Appearances In NBA
History (*Hall Of Famer)
LeBron James (LAL) 20
Tim Duncan* 15
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 19
Kevin Garnett* 15
Kobe Bryant* 18
Shaquille O’Neal* 15
Julius Erving* 16
Most NBA All-Star 4: Bob Pettit* and Kobe Bryant*
Game MVPs 3: Oscar
Robertson, Shaquille O’Neal,* Michael Jordan,*
(*Hall Of Famer) LeBron James
(LAL)
“I can stay at three. If I get four, cool,”
James said when Johnson asked if he is shooting to win the 2024 All-Star Game
MVP. “But at the end of day, I’m in great company no matter where I’m at. So,
it doesn’t even matter to me.”
Players NBA History With A Triple-Double
In NBA All-Star Game (*Hall Of Famer)
Michael Jordan* 1998 14 Points, 11 Rebounds, 11
Assists
LeBron James (LAL) 2011 29 Points, 12
Rebounds, 10 Assists
Dwyane Wade* 2012 24 Points,
10 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Kevin Durant (PHX) 2017 21 Points, 10
Rebounds, 10 Assists
The other graybeard to start for the West
is Kevin Durant (28.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.7 apg, 53.8 FG%, 44.3 3-Pt.%-8th
NBA) of the Phoenix Suns (33-22 Record-No. 5 West), who earned his 14th
All-Star selection in his 16th NBA season.
How special has Kevin Durant continued to
be in season No. 16, he is shooting over 50 percent for the 11th
consecutive season and is shooting over 40 percent from three-point range for
the sixth straight season.
He too like James has All-Star Game MVP
hardware on his mantle with two (2012 & 2019).
The West All-Stars starting backcourt
consists of the present and future stars of “The Association.”
The first part of that starting duo is Luka
Doncic (34.2 ppg-Leads NBA, 9.5 apg-3rd NBA, 8.8 rpg, 49.2 FG%, 37.5
3-Pt.%-career-high) of the Dallas Mavericks (32-23 Record-No. 7 West), who
earned his fifth consecutive All-Star selection in his sixth NBA season by
averaging over 30 points for the second straight season.
Doncic has registered 30 double-doubles on
the season, including 10 triple-doubles, which is third in the NBA. He has totaled
35 30-plus point games on the season, including 10 40-plus point games, and two
50-plus point games.
Among those two 50-point games was a
career-high and franchise-record of 73 points with 10 rebounds, and seven
assists on 25/33 from the field, including 8/13 from three, and 15/16 at the
foul line in the Mavericks 148-143 victory Jan. 26, 2024 at the Hawks on NBATV.
In speaking with the NBA on TNT crew of Johnson,
Smith, Barkley, and O’Neal back on Jan. 25, 2024 at TNT studios in Atlanta, GA
before his 73-point performance at the Hawks, he recalled back as a youngster in
Slovenia he tried to stay up late to watch the All-Star Game. But his parents did
allow it because he had to go to school early the next morning.
“I always wanted to be [in the] NBA. That’s
all,” Doncic said to the NBA on TNT studio crew about what it means to him to
be an All-Star again. “My first year [in NBA], I didn’t know what to expect.
Where I’m going to be. But I was just happy to be here and to play basketball
at the highest level.”
Joining Doncic in the starting backcourt will
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.3 ppg-2nd NBA, 6.5 apg, 5.5 rpg, 2.2
spg-Leads NBA 54.6 FG%) of the Oklahoma City Thunder (37-17 Record-No. 2 West),
who earned his second consecutive All-Star selection in his sixth NBA season.
The 26-year-old lead guard for the Thunder
has averaged 30-plus points for the second straight season and leads the NBA with
39 30-plus point games on the season, including five 30-plus point games.
Most Career 30-Plus Point Games Kevin Durant 246
In Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma Russell Westbrook 189
City Thunder History Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 117
Manning the middle for the West starters
is Nikola Jokic 26.1 ppg, 12.0 rpg-4th NBA, 8.9 apg-4th
NBA, 57.7 FG%, 35.2 3-Pt.%) for the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets (36-19
Record-No. 4 West).
The two-time Kia MVP has been nothing
short of magnificent in earning sixth consecutive All-Star selection in his
ninth NBA season behind his fourth straight season and sixth in the last seven
seasons averaging a double-double. Those four straight season averaging at
least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists on 52-plus percent shooting.
Jokic’s 44 doubles and 15 triple-doubles
are second only to the 50 double-doubles and 18 triple-doubles by three-time
All-Star big man of the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis.
West Reserves
With good health and stellar production
that has come to define his stellar career that has seen him become a two-time
NBA champion, Kawhi Leonard (24.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, 52.7 FG%, 45.3 3-Pt.%)
has helped the Los Angeles Clippers (36-17 Record-No. 3 West) become a serious
threat in the Western Conference and earned him his sixth All-Star selection in
his 12th NBA season.
The man affectionately dubbed “The Klaw” playing
in 48 out of the Clippers 53 games on the season has averaged 20-plus points
and five-plus boards for the fifth straight season playing and sixth time in
his last seven seasons played. His 52.7 percent from the field is as well as
his 45.3 percent from three-point range are career-highs. The 45.3 percentage
from three-point range is tied with his teammate Norman Powell for third in “The
Association” so far this season.
Leonard on the season has totaled 13 30-plus
point games on the season, including a season-high 41 points with five boards,
and five assists on 14/23 from the field, including 6/8 on his threes and
making all seven of his free throws in the Clippers 117-103 victory Dec. 8,
2023 at the Utah Jazz (26-30 Record-No. 11 West).
Joining Leonard at this season’s unofficial
midseason classic is Paul George (22.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 spg, 45.8 FG%, 39.3
3-Pt.%), who earned his ninth All-Star selection in his 14th NBA season,
playing in 50 out of the Clippers 53 games on the season.
George has registered eight 30-plus point games
so far this season.
The other Laker playing in the 2024
All-Star Game will be Anthony Davis (24.9 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 55.3 FG%), making
his ninth appearance in his 12th NBA season, his first since 2021
thanks to averaging 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds and two-plus block
shots for the eighth time in the last 11 seasons.
Davis like James has enjoyed good health
this season and has resulted in his second straight season averaging 25-plus
points and 12-plus rebounds and two-plus block shots for a second straight
season on 55-plus percent shooting. After totaling 40 double-doubles on the
season, Davis has totaled 42 double-doubles so far this season, his most since
registering 50 double-doubles in his final season with the New Orleans Pelicans
in 2017-18.
Davis has also 15 30-plus point games on
the season.
“To have him on the floor every night. He
shows every night why he’s the most defensive beast out on the court. He does everything
for our team,” James said to Johnson, Smith, Barkley, and O’Neal during the TNT
All-Star Pregame Show about Davis’ play this season. “And offensively, he’s
[Davis] always stable for our us. He’s amazing and I’m happy to be a teammate
of his.”
The Suns also has double representation at
the 2024 NBA All-Star game with Devin Booker (27.5 ppg-8th NBA, 7.0
apg-10th NBA, 4.6 rpg, 50.0 FG%-career-high, 37.9 3-Pt.%), who
earned his fourth All-Star selection in his ninth NBA season.
The longest tenured Sun has totaled 17
30-plus point games so far in 2023-24, including 50 games with 40-plus points
and two games with 50-plus points. That includes a season-high 62 points on
22/37 shooting, including 6/12 from three-point range, and 12/13 from the
charity stripe in the Suns 133-131 defeat Jan. 26, 2024 at the Pacers.
Booker has also registered 10
double-doubles, his most since registering 11 in 2019-20 and two shy of tying
his career-best of 12 double-doubles the season before.
Having the best-record in the Western Conference
for the first time at the All-Star break in their history, the Minnesota
Timberwolves earned two invites to the NBA’s unofficial midseason classic of
Anthony Edwards (26.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, 47.1 FG%, 38.6 3-Pt.%-career-high)
and Karl-Anthony Towns (22.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 51.7 FG%, 43.7 3-Pt.%-career-high).
Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020
out of University of Georgia has risen his scoring in each of his first four
NBA seasons and is on the verge of becoming the first player in Timberwolves
history to average 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a
single-season. He already has six double-doubles after totaling nine all of
last season.
Edwards so far this season has registered 19
30-plus point games, including two 40-plus point games, with his most recent
coming in the Timberwolves 121-109 victory Feb. 13, 2024 at the Portland Trail
Blazers (15-39 Record-No. 14 West), where he totaled on 16/27 field goals,
including 4/8 from three-point range.
Towns, who earned his fourth All-Star selection
in his ninth NBA season, his first since 2022 is averaging 20-plus points for
the eighth consecutive season, shooting 50-plus percent from the field for the
seventh time in the last nine seasons.
He has registered 20 double-doubles on the
season, his most since totaling 40 in 2021-22. Towns has also totaled four
30-plus point games on the season, including a career-high and single-game
franchise-record of 62 points on 21/35 from the floor, including 10/15 from
three, and 10/14 at the foul line in the 128-125 loss Jan. 22, 2024 versus the
Charlotte Hornets (13-41 Record-No. 13 East).
Rounding out the West All-Star reserves in
Stephen Curry (28.0 ppg-6th NBA, 5.0 apg, 46.2 FG%, 42.1 3-Pt.% of
the Golden State Warriors (27-26 Record-No. 10 West), earning his 10th
All-Selection in his 15th NBA season.
“Ten is nice for sure,” Curry said to TNT’s
Allie LaForce about earning his 10th All-Star selection during All-Star
pregame warmups. “Then I look in my locker room, I’ve got KD [Kevin Durant]
whose got 14 [All-Star selection] and I’ve got Bron [LeBron James] whose got 20.
So, 10 is nice for sure. Nice kind of milestone. Hopefully there’s a lot more
in the future. But 15 years in the league, it’s crazy how fast it’s gone by and
how special that number is. I don’t know what the list of 10-plus is. But it's
some names for sure.”
Curry so far this season has registered 22 30-plus point games, including six 40-plus point games. He closed out the unofficial first half of this season with three 30-plus point games coming in the last four games. That stretch including registering seven-plus made triples in the last four games, the first to do it in NBA history.
The
NBA’s all-time leader in threes made in NBA history at 3,642 and counting made another
All-Star memory where on All-Star Saturday Night, presented by State Farm he
defeated (29-26) WNBA All-Star sharp-shooter of the New York Liberty Sabrina Ionescu,
who at last summer’s WNBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, NV registered the
highest score for any three-point professional contest with 37 points.
While Curry won the event and earned the championship belt as the three-point champion,
the real winners were both player’s non-profit charities of Curry’s “Eat.
Learn. Play,” and Ionescu’s “SI20 Foundation” earned $25,000 from the NBA and
WNBA and by combining for 55 points in the competition triggered a $55,000 donation
from State Farm to the NBA Foundation.
“That was amazing,” Ionescu said of going
up against Curry in this first of its kind event. “Come out here and put on a
show. But understanding what this means and excited to change the narrative and
be able to do it alongside the greatest to ever to do it.”
Curry echoed those same sentiments by
saying after the victory first on the competition, “When I got to the top and I
missed the two three-pointers, I knew I had to get hot.”
He then said about the meaning of the competition with Ionescu, “This couldn’t have gone any better in the sense of, you know, us two taking the chance in front of this stage. One round. With all the hype and to deliver like that. She [Ionescu] set the bar. It was unbelievable to watch. This might be something that, I don’t know if anybody can fill these shoe. But it might be something that we need to do more often.
Information, statistics, and quotations
are courtesy of 1/25/2024 www.nba.com story “LeBron
James Makes History With 20th All-Star Selection,” By Tim Reynolds
of “The Associated Press;” 2/10/2024 1 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” from Los
Angeles, CA With Linda Cohn and Stan Verrett; 2/15/2024 7 p.m. “TNT NBA Tip-Off,”
presented by Carmax With Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille
O’Neal; 2/17/2024 5:30 p.m. “All-Saturday Pregame,” TNT With Ernie Johnson,
Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Allie LaForce; 2/17/2024 8
p.m. “NBA All-Star Saturday Night,” presented by State Farm” TNT With Kevin
Harlan, Reggie Miller, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, and Allie LaForce; 2/18/2024
www.nba.com story “2024 AT&T Slam Dunk:
Mac McClung Bests Jaylen Brown, Repeats As Champion,” By Shaun Powell; 1/25/2024
and 2/2/2024 7 p.m. “TNT NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Carmax With Ernie Johnson,
Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 2/18/2024 6 p.m. “TNT NBA Tip-Off,”
presented by Carmax With Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille
O’Neal, Allie LaForce, and Taylor Rooks; https://en.m.wikipedia.org;
and www.espn.com.
