Westbrook, Lowry highlight NBA reserves

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul and Houston’s Russell Westbrook, who were traded for each other in the offseason, highlight the reserves for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game next month in Chicago.

Paul will be making his 10th appearance and Westbrook his ninth as they are two of seven reserves added from the Western Conference, the league announced on Thursday.

They are joined by Portland’s Damian Lillard, who is making his fifth appearance, and Denver center Nikola Jokic, who earned his second nod. New Orleans forward Brandon Ingram and Utah teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, of France, will be making their all-star debuts.

Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry and Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons top the list of players chosen by the league’s coaches from the Eastern Conference.

Lowry is heading to the showcase for the sixth consecutive season.

The 33-year-old Lowry was one of seven Eastern Conference reserves named on Thursday for the February 16 game where he will join teammate Pascal Siakam who was selected as a starter last week.

Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Miami’s Bam Adebayo and Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis were also picked from the East.

Mitchell, Gobert, Ingram, Adebayo, Tatum and Sabonis are all first-time selections.

© Agence France-Presse