By Stefan Djordjevic/ sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
The NBA announced the reserves for the 2021 All-Star game and two more Europeans – Rudy Gobert and Nikola Vucevic – joined the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic who made it to the starting lineups.
The full list of reserves is as follows:
West – Chris Paul, Paul George, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis.
East – James Harden, Julius Randle, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons, Nikola Vucevic.
Five #AllStars from Europe pic.twitter.com/tMu4Dh8apE
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 24, 2021
This will be Vucevic’s, as well as Gobert’s, second All-Star appearances. The European bigs had their first one in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Some of the notable players that missed out on the All-Star are Trae Young, Devin Booker, Tobias Harris, DeMar DeRozan as well as Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis has been playing his career-best year so far this season with 21.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. He’s been shooting 53% from the field, 46% from deep, and 71% from the free-throw line.
In fact, according to Stat Muse, he’s one of the only three players averaging 20-10-5 on 50% shooting this season (Jokic, Giannis) and he is the first player in NBA history to average 20-10-5 and not make the All-Star team.