Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum named to first All-Star game

Jayson Tatum has reportedly been selected to the All-Star game as a reserve for the first time in his career.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has been named to his first NBA All-Star Game, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Tatum is averaging 21.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34.0 minutes per game this season.

The 21-year-old has been a secondary playmaker next to point guard Kemba Walker, who is a starter in the All-Star game. Tatum’s net rating of 11.1 is the highest among Celtics who have played more than 12 games.

His real plus-minus of 4.69 is tied with Dennis Schroder for fifth in the league, according to ESPN. The four players who rank ahead of them are LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

Walker and Tatum have helped the Celtics go 31-15 and remain in the middle of the race for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

The rest of the Eastern Conference reserves, according to Charania, are Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Bam Adebayo and Domas Sabonis.

The Western Conference reserves are Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul.

The All-Star game will take place on Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago. It will be televised on TNT.

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