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sports Wednesday 1 February 2023
Analysis: NBA All-Star reserve voting to lead to some snubs

By TIM REYNOLDS “games played” column.
AP Basketball Writer If Davis and those five other
Brace yourself. There’s go- players make it, that leaves
ing to be some angry peo- one spot on the West roster.
ple in the NBA on Thursday ONE.
night. Phoenix’s Devin Booker is
With good reason. averaging about 27 points
The votes from the coach- a game. Minnesota’s An-
es are now in, and on Thurs- thony Edwards is averaging
day, the NBA will reveal the about 25 points a game.
14 players — seven from Sacramento’s De’Aaron
the Eastern Conference, Fox is averaging about
seven more from the West- 24. Odds are, at least one
ern Conference — who got of those guys will miss out
picked to be reserves for on being picked Thursday
the All-Star Game. night.
They’ll join the pool of 10 Maybe two. Maybe even
starters: the Los Angeles all three.
Lakers’ LeBron James, Mil- Denver leads the Western
waukee’s Giannis Antetok- Conference and should
ounmpo, Dallas’ Luka Don- have more than one All-
cic, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Star, so that suggests Aaron
Brooklyn teammates Kevin Gordon — who has been
Durant and Kyrie Irving, Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid reacts after a play duining the second half of an NBA basketball fantastic this season — will
Golden State’s Stephen game against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Philadelphia. Associated Press get a long look. An All-Star
Curry, Cleveland’s Dono- Game without Los Angeles
van Mitchell, Denver’s should be All-Stars. lisle said earlier this season. You can see how messy this Clippers teammates Paul
Nikola Jokic and New Or- That’s nine from the East. “And you know, some peo- is going to get. George and Kawhi Leon-
leans’ Zion Williamson. That leaves no more than ple that have unconven- It might be even worse ard would make no sense,
And then the cries of snub- three slots left for this group tional ways to be successful out West. Sacramento’s given how they’re playing
bing will begin. — Atlanta’s Trae Young, in this game, you have to Domantas Sabonis, Okla- this season. But that could
Let’s start dissecting this Chicago’s DeMar DeRo- just leave them alone and homa City’s Shai Gilgeous- happen. New Orleans’ CJ
mess with the East. Philadel- zan and Zach LaVine, allow them to do what they Alexander, Utah’s Lauri McCollum has averaged
phia’s Joel Embiid is going New York’s Jalen Brunson, do. His artistry is the way he Markkanen, Memphis’ Ja nearly 20 points per game
to be an All-Star reserve, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Or- gets the ball in the basket, Morant and Portland’s Da- in his career, is averaging a
based on both common lando’s Paolo Banchero, the way he sees the game, mian Lillard should be locks tick above that this season,
sense and the fact that NBA Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton the way he connects team- for reserve nods. The only and still hasn’t been an All-
coaches wouldn’t dare and Cleveland’s Darius mates and the special per- question on the Lakers’ An- Star. Coaches had to have
anger one of the league’s Garland. And all eight of son that he is.” thony Davis is if missing a considered Phoenix’s Chris
most hard-to-guard players those guys, plus some oth- Sounds like an All-Star. A lot bunch of games with injury Paul for their ballots as well.
by not voting for him. Bos- ers, are all worthy candi- of coaches can make simi- will weigh on the minds of All we know for certain is
ton’s Jaylen Brown, New dates. lar arguments for their guys, coaches; his numbers are there will be some very
York’s Julius Randle and “Tyrese Haliburton is an art- and not be lying when they more than good enough, good players who didn’t
Miami’s Bam Adebayo all ist,” Pacers coach Rick Car- make them. except for that pesky make the cut.q

Taurasi to take part in USA Basketball training camp

By DOUG FEINBERG but Griner hasn’t been out the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
AP Basketball Writer in public much since a pris- Bird retired from playing at
Diana Taurasi’s USA Basket- oner swap in December the end of last season.
ball career isn’t done just brought her home from Other players expected at
yet. Russia after a 10-month or- the training camp that will
The five-time Olympic gold deal that captivated world run from Feb. 7-9 include
medalist will take part in attention. Griner said she former Olympic or World
a national team training plans on playing in the Cup gold medalists: Ariel At-
camp in Minnesota next WNBA this year. kins and Elena Delle Donne
month. Taurasi told The As- Taurasi is a free agent right of Washington; Napheesa
sociated Press last summer now, but is expected to Collier of Minnesota; Allisha
that she would consider return to the Phoenix Mer- Gray of Dallas; Sabrina Io-
playing with USA Basketball cury — the only team she’s nescu and Betnijah Laney
if she was healthy enough. played for in her WNBA ca- of New York; Kelsey Plum
She injured her quad shortly reer. She turns 41 in June and Jackie Young of Las
after and didn’t participate and would be 42 at the Vegas; Kahleah Copper of United States’ Diana Taurasi, left, and Brittney Griner tale part in
in the FIBA World Cup that time of the Paris Olympics Chicago and free agent a women’s basketball practice at the 2020 Summer Olympics,
the Americans won in Aus- in 2024. The WNBA’s all-time Angel McCoughtry. July 24, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.
tralia. leading scorer and her Natasha Howard, Marina Associated Press
While Taurasi will be at good friend Sue Bird hold Mabrey and Arike Ogun-
the camp, Brittney Griner the record with five Olym- bowale of Dallas will also with back issues over the games total over the past
won’t. She is still part of the pic gold medals. The pair be at the camp as well as past few years and has two years. She last compet-
pool that the 2024 Olympic helped the U.S. win a sev- Phoenix’s Brianna Turner. only been able to play in ed for the U.S. at the 2018
team will be chosen from, enth consecutive gold at Delle Donne has dealt 28 WNBA regular season World Cup.q