NBA All-Star starters revealed as Westbrook with 21 triple double misses out
Although the NBA changed voting rules for the All-Star Game, the polling continues to be a popularity contest.
Despite averaging a triple-double this season, Oklahoma City Thunder guard and MVP favourite Russell Westbrook was not named an All-Star starter for next month’s exhibition game in New Orleans.
Instead it was Westbrook’s old friends Kevin Durant and James Harden getting the starting nod, the NBA announced on Thursday.
Golden State Warriors star Durant, who swapped Oklahoma City for the Bay Area during the off-season, and Houston Rockets guard Harden will start alongside San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans for the Western Conference on February 19.
The 2017 Western Conference @NBAAllStar Starters in action! pic.twitter.com/5lHjRA8QxM
— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2017
Cleveland Cavaliers team-mates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving headline the Eastern Conference, who also boast Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler and Milwaukee Bucks centre Giannis Antetokounmpo in the starting five.
The 2017 Eastern Conference @NBAAllStar Starters in action! pic.twitter.com/qKjmNuQ47w
— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2017
The NBA announced in December that in addition to the usual fan vote, players and members of the basketball media will now have a say in who gets selected.
NBA fans accounted for 50 per cent of the vote total for All-Star starters. Players and a panel of media members, who are allowed just one ballot each, accounted for the other 50 percent.
The East and West All-Star reserves will be announced next Thursday and are chosen by NBA head coaches.
Last season, the West beat the ast 196-173 in Toronto.
