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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Aldridge selected for NBA All-Star Game

Lillard not on team, but could be added

By , Columbian Trail Blazers Writer
Published:

Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team by the coaches for the fourth consecutive year on Thursday.

Aldridge is the third player in Blazers history with four All-Star selections joining Clyde Drexler (8) and Sydney Wicks (4). But the story quickly turned to his teammate who won’t be there, Damian Lillard.

Lillard was surprisingly left off the Western Conference reserves.

Aldridge was a guest on TNT’s pregame show where they revealed the selections and he gave his reaction to Lillard being left off.

“I was highly surprised,” Aldridge said. “I thought he was going to be in for sure. He’s been great for us all year. Made big shots for us all year too so I was surprised.”

Lillard has struggled from the field over the last seven games. He’s shooting 34 percent and just 26 percent from beyond the 3-point line. But for much of the season, Lillard was considered by many to be a fringe MVP candidate.

According to Grantland.com, Lillard was third in the league, only behind Houston’s James Harden and Golden State’s Stephen Curry, in 3-pointers created either for himself or teammates.

He’s sixth in the league in win shares, has played in every game this season and is in the top-five in minutes played, 3-pointers made and 3-pointers attempted according to Basketball-Reference.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was voted in by the fans but already had surgery on a torn rotator cuff that will have him out six-to-nine months. The commissioner traditionally selects injury replacements for the All-Star team.

Bryant was selected as a starter along with Curry, Blake Griffin of the Clippers, Anthony Davis of the Pelicans and Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies.

Aldridge joins Houston’s Harden, Tim Duncan of the Spurs, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Klay Thompson from the Warriors and Chris Paul of the Clippers as reserves.

Lillard, a 2014 All-Star selection, was also one of the last three cuts for USA basketball.

Other notable omissions from the Western Conference roster include Memphis’ Mike Conley.

Should Lillard be selected as an All-Star by the commissioner or an All-NBA team this season for the second time in three years, it would kick in the “Derrick Rose rule” and make him eligible for a five-year max contract extension.

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Columbian Trail Blazers Writer