13th February, 2012
Nigerian- born Andre Iguodala of Philadelphia 76ers has been chosen as a reserve player for the 2012 All-Star Game for the first time in his industrious career.
Iguodala joined perennial All-Star such as Paul Pierce of Boston Celtics and Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas Mavericks who bagged their 10th and 11th time respectively, and headline the list of 14 players that have been selected by NBA coaches as reserves for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, the NBA announced.
This year’s All-Star Game, which will air live at 7 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Amway Centre in Orlando on Sunday, 26 February.
Joining Pierce as reserves on the East squad are Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls), Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets). Deng, Hibbert and Iguodala are first-time All-Star, while Williams earns his third trip, Johnson his sixth, and Bosh his seventh.
Nowitzki, whose 11 selections are consecutive, is joined on the West team by reserves LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs), and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).
For Aldridge and Gasol, this marks their first All-Star selection. It’s the second All-Star nod for both Love and Westbrook, while Parker goes for the fourth time, and Nash, at 38 the oldest player in this year’s game, is an All-Star for the eighth time.
On the other end of the spectrum, Bryant ties Jerry West, Karl Malone, and Shaquille O’Neal for the most consecutive All-Star nods in NBA history with 14.
NBA Commissioner David Stern will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game.
If the injured player is a starter, the head coach of that team will determine who replaces him in the starting lineup.
—Bamidele Olowosegba