LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts after making a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on October 31, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images/AFP
Commissioner Adam Silver on Monday named Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray injury replacements for the February 20 NBA All-Star Game. It is the first All-Star selection for each player.
Ball takes the place of Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, who has been sidelined since Jan. 15 with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Murray replaces Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who has a lower back injury and has not played meaningful minutes since Jan. 5.
Durant and LeBron James are serving as captains for the game on February 20 and will choose their teams in Thursday’s All-Star Draft. Durant will still draft his team even though he is unable to play.
FILE – Dejounte Murray #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the second half of a game against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on November 16, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP
The NBA also said that Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will replace Durant in the starter pool for the draft.
“When a starter is injured prior to the NBA All-Star Draft and is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, he is replaced in the starter pool for the Draft by the All-Star reserve from the same conference and of the same position group who received the highest ranking in the voting for All-Star starters,” the league said in a news release.
Ball, who won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020-21, is averaging 19.6 points, 7.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 47 games (all starts) this season. He ranks 10th in the NBA in assists per game.
Murray, in his fifth NBA season, leads the Spurs with 19.6 points per game, ranks fourth in the NBA with 9.2 assists per game and tops the league with 2.1 steals per game. He also averages 8.4 rebounds, and his 10 triple-doubles this season rank second in the NBA behind only reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of Denver.