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Damian Lillard to replace Blake Griffin in All-Star Game

Utah Jazz v Portland Trail Blazers

Utah Jazz v Portland Trail Blazers

NBAE/Getty Images

In a move that surprises absolutely no one, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has named Damian Lillard to the Western Conference All-Star team to replace the injured Blake Griffin. Here’s the league’s press release from Sunday afternoon:

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Western Conference All-Star forward Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Lillard, who will appear in his second All-Star Game after making his debut last year, ranks 13th in the NBA in scoring (21.6 ppg) and 15th in assists (6.3 apg). He also leads the league in fourth-quarter scoring (311 points) and is sixth in three-pointers made (129), helping Portland to a Northwest Division-best 34-17 record. Lillard is joined on the West team by Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, an All-Star for the fourth consecutive season, giving Portland the same two players selected to back-to-back All-Star Games for the first time since Maurice Lucas and Bill Walton in 1977 and 1978.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, who earned the right to coach the West team because the Warriors had the best record in the conference through games played Feb. 1, will determine Griffin’s replacement in the starting lineup.


Lillard has been in a bit of a slump lately, but overall he’s having a terrific season and deserves to make it. He was very vocal about his disappointment at missing out last week when the reserves were announced, and again when Silver named Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins as Kobe Bryant’s injury replacement.