By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The reserves completed the lineups of the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on Thursday. Announced last week, the starters included European superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic. However, the rest of the pack lacked players from the Old Continent.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis is probably the biggest snub. He got the nod in 2020, 2021, and 2023, and arguably forged his way to a fourth appearance. Averaging 19.9 points and 13.0 rebounds per game alongside 8.0 assists per game, pushing the Sacramento Kings inside the Playoffs zone of the Western Conference as the seventh-best player in the league in impact estimate, he did not fit.
On the plus side for Sabonis and his All-Star Game bid, possible late additions as replacements for injured players would likely get him in the mix. Finnish Lauri Markkanen, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis, French Rudy Gobert, and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic shape other notable European absences but all shy from deserving Sabonis.
Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers instead joined the Western Conference squad.
Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle of the New York Knicks, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers shaped the reserves of the Eastern Conference.
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