L.A: Your Western Conference All Star
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Jennifer Stewart/US Presswire
Aldridge earns second straight All-Star bid, will represent Portland in Houston on Feb. 17
PORTLAND, Ore. (January 24, 2013) – Portland Trail Blazers forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge was named a 2013 NBA All-Star reserve by a vote of Western Conference head coaches, it was announced today by the league.
Aldridge will make his second consecutive trip to the NBA All-Star Game after making his first career appearance in 2012. He is the 11th player in franchise history to be selected an All-Star multiple times and the eighth to earn the distinction in consecutive seasons.
“Everyone in the Trail Blazers family is proud that the work and dedication LaMarcus shows on a daily basis to this organization was recognized by the opposing coaches in the Western Conference,” said Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey.
Aldridge, 27, ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring with 20.7 points per game to go with 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.95 steals and 1.28 blocks in 40 games (all starts) this season. Portland’s leader in scoring and blocked shots, Aldridge has led the Trail Blazers in scoring 15 times, rebounding 16 times and blocks on 22 occasions.
“I’m very happy for LaMarcus, he is the foundation of what we are building here,” said Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts. “He is very deserving of this honor and I’m glad he was recognized by my fellow coaches.”
The Dallas native joins Miami’s LeBron James as the NBA’s only two players averaging at least 20 points and eight rebounds this season. Aldridge is also the league’s only player averaging at least 20 points while committing no more than two turnovers per game.
Aldridge has enjoyed a stellar month of January in which he ranks tied for second in the NBA with nine double-doubles and sits 11th in rebounding (10.5).
The starting five in the Western Conference, decided by fan balloting, consists of Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), Dwight Howard (L.A. Lakers) and Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers). Rounding out the reserves from the coaches’ vote are Tim Duncan (San Antonio), James Harden (Houston), David Lee (Golden State), Tony Parker (San Antonio), Zach Randolph (Memphis) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).
The 2013 NBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 5 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday, Feb. 17, from the Toyota Center in Houston. The game will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com discusses LaMarcus Aldridge's All Star selection on Flight 750.