Curry, Durant and four first-time starters highlight starting lineups for NBA All-Star 2017
Russell Westbrook might be the most dynamic player in the NBA this season, scoring a league-best 30.6 points and averaging a triple-double through his first 44 games. But unless an injury occurs, Westbrook will not be a starter in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.
The starting lineups were revealed Thursday for the 66th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played Sunday, Feb. 19, in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center. And apparently Westbrook’s first-half performance wasn’t impressive enough to crack the Western Conference’s top five.
Then again, the West’s starting guards each have a pretty good case for inclusion. Golden State’s reigning two-time MVP Stephen Curry will make his fourth All-Star appearance. Alongside Curry will be Houston’s James Harden, who is second in the NBA in points (28.9) and first in assists (11.6) in his role as point guard for the Rockets.
Westbrook’s former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant, who left over the summer for the Golden State Warriors, will headline the Western Conference frontcourt. Durant, a seven-time All-Star, is averaging 26.2 points and a career-high 8.6 rebounds for the 36-6 Warriors. San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard will make his second consecutive All-Star start. Leonard, the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging a career-best 24.8 points for the Spurs, who are 32-9 thus far.
Starting up front alongside Durant and Leonard will be New Orleans’ big man, Anthony Davis. Davis made his All-Star debut in New Orleans in 2014 as a reserve, and this year will mark his first time in the starting lineup. Through his first 40 games, Davis is averaging 28.8 points and 12.1 rebounds, the only player in the top 10 in both categories, although the Pelicans are just 17-26 this season.
