Anthony snubbed as NBA reveals All-Star game reserves
NEW YORK (AP) – One bad night may have overshadowed all the good Carmelo Anthony has done this season. The NBA’s leading scorer was not among the seven reserves announced Thursday night for the Western Conference team that will play in the NBA All-Star game.
Denver teammate Allen Iverson was chosen, extending his streak of consecutive All-Star appearances to eight.
Anthony, who is averaging 31.3 points but missed 15 games while suspended for his role in the brawl at Madison Square Garden, was the most obvious omission. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were all chosen from the Phoenix Suns, but Dirk Nowitzki was the only player picked from the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks had been hoping Josh Howard would be selected as well.
Detroit’s Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton were chosen, and Jason Kidd and Vince Carter will represent the Nets in the game at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal and first-timers Dwight Howard of Orlando and Caron Butler of Washington round out the East reserves.
The seven reserves were voted on by the head coaches in their respective conferences.
The remainder of the West reserves were San Antonio guard Tony Parker and Utah forward Carlos Boozer.
The starters were announced last Thursday. LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Gilbert Arenas were picked in the East. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant were voted in by fans to start for the West.
Anthony still has a chance to play in Las Vegas. NBA commissioner David Stern will choose a replacement for Yao, who is still recovering from a broken bone under his knee, and Boozer also is unavailable because of injury.