Brooklyn Nets goalie James Harden makes headlines on Eastern Conference All-Star Reserves, while Utah Jazz sends two to Western Conference roster

The NBA announced reserve selections for next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta on Tuesday night, a list featured by Brooklyn Nets star James Harden as well as center Rudy Gobert and frontman Donovan Mitchell. Utah Jazz League.

Harden, the 2018 NBA MVP, is representing Brooklyn for the first time in what will be his ninth consecutive All-Star appearance. The previous eight have come with the Houston Rockets, who traded Harden to Brooklyn in a four-team deal last month. Since the trade, Harden has averaged 24.9 points and 11.4 assists in 18 games for Brooklyn. He will join teammates Kevin Durant – one of the two captains, alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James – and Kyrie Irving, both of whom were voted starters last week.

In addition to Harden, the other six Eastern Conference picks were: guard Jaylen Brown and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine; Philadelphia 76ers keep Ben Simmons; and the Orlando Magic Nikola Vucevic Center.

Brown, the favorite for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award this season, averages career highs for the Celtics, including points (25.5), assists (3.9) and all three shooting percentage categories: field goal (49.7), 3 points (40.9) and free throw (76.6), helping him win his first All-Star selection. Tatum, meanwhile, is averaging 26.4 points, a career-high, and making his second straight appearance in the league’s midseason showcase.

Vucevic will make his second All-Star appearance, having made his first two seasons two seasons ago, and is averaging a career-high 24.1 points per game and a career-high 40% at 3 points. Simmons will make his third consecutive All-Star appearance; the well-rounded guard is, alongside starter Joel Embiid, a huge reason the Sixers entered Tuesday with the best Eastern Conference record.

They will be joined by two All-Stars for the first time from two of the league’s flagship franchises at Randle and LaVine, both of whom have career years. Randle, who helped lead the 15-16 Knicks in a startling competition for a playoff berth, averages career records in virtually every category playing under Tom Thibodeau, while LaVine is averaging highs in career 28.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Over the past few weeks, there has been an intense debate over who should deserve the bottom two spots in the East, with a deep pool of candidates garnering support. Ultimately, however, the league’s coaches ended up leaving several, including: Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo and forward Jimmy Butler; Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton; 76ers forward Tobias Harris; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet; Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon and attacker Domantas Sabonis; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young; and Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward.

Out West, Gobert and Mitchell were the headliners, as they were both representatives of the Jazz streak, which begins Wednesday’s showdown against the Lakers on ESPN with the best record in the NBA and having won 20 of their last 22. matches. Gobert, who is poised to win his third Defensive Player of the Year title, is making his second straight All-Star appearance this season after a few narrow misses in previous seasons. It is also the second appearance in a row for Mitchell, who has averaged career-high 24.5 points and 5.2 assists this season.

They were joined by: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers goaltender; LA Clippers forward Paul George; Lakers forward Anthony Davis; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.

Lillard could easily have been a starter as he’s enjoying another stellar season, averaging 29.8 points and 7.7 assists and keeping Portland in the playoff picture, even though goaltender CJ McCollum and center Jusuf Nurkic are injured long term. George, meanwhile, is back in the All-Star Game for the seventh time after missing it last year, his Los Angeles premiere, after injuries delayed the start of his season. Davis, on the other hand, is almost certain to be replaced by someone before the All-Star Game due to the calf strain that is currently sidelining the Lakers star.

West’s last two spots went to one of the league’s oldest stars in Paul and one of the youngest in Williamson. Paul, who Phoenix acquired before the season, is making his 11th All-Star appearance and his second in a row after making the roster last year for Oklahoma City. Williamson, the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, makes his first appearance after averaging 25.1 points and shooting over 60% from the field.

These two beat a group of contenders for the final two spots which included: San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan; Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; Jazz guard Mike Conley, who continues to hold the unofficial title of best player to ever be on an All-Star team; Suns babysits Devin Booker; and Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.

As in recent seasons, the NBA will consolidate the All-Stars into a single group, which will be split into two teams by Captains James and Durant. Jazz coach Quin Snyder will coach James’ team, while Sixers coach Doc Rivers will lead Durant’s team.

The game will also feature, like last year, the Elam Ending, in which teams will play for a final score instead of a timed fourth quarter. Like last year, that final score will be determined by taking the combined score of the team that is ahead by three quarters and adding 24 points – in honor of Kobe Bryant – to that total.