Chris Paul is going to another All-Star Game.
Initially reported by Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports, Paul was selected as one of the reserves as voted on by the league’s coaches.
Yahoo Sources: Chris Paul and a slew of first-times in Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert selected as 2020 All-Star reserves. https://t.co/rJ4MVipZei pic.twitter.com/t9GvRJ64A6
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 30, 2020
The NBA made it official, announcing the news just after 6 p.m. CT.
Making his 10th #NBAAllStar appearance… Chris Paul of the @okcthunder.
Drafted as the 4th pick in 2005 out of Wake Forest, @CP3 is averaging 17.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 6.5 APG for the Thunder this season. pic.twitter.com/En6AiOAxSq
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 31, 2020
It is the 10th All-Star selection for Paul, his first since the 2015-16 season when he represented the West as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Well deserved 👏👏👏 10th 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 Game for @CP3. #ThunderUp | #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/Nv2fbjDRqH
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 31, 2020
Paul was the All-Star Game MVP in 2012-13.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, also rounding out the reserves for the West are Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, and former Thunder guard, Russell Westbrook.
For the East, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, as well as former Thunder center, Domas Sabonis, make up the reserves.
Sources: 2020 NBA All-Star reserves:
East: Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Domas Sabonis
West: Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 30, 2020
The NBA announced some drastic changes to the format of the All-Star Game, including plans to incorporate a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, on Thursday afternoon.
Instead of a standard four-quarter game, both teams will compete to win each of the first three quarters, with the score being reset to 0-0 after each 12-minute period.
The fourth quarter will be untimed.
As explained by ESPN, “the team that wins the All-Star Game will be the first to reach a target score, determined by the total points the team in the lead scored in the first three quarters combined — plus 24, the obvious nod to Bryant.”
According to the NBA’s president for league operations, Byron Spruell, there were already discussions in place to change the format when Sunday’s tragedy occurred.
“We spent a lot of time considering the right target number to use for the fourth quarter. Through the events of this week it became clear to us that the only appropriate number for this season’s All-Star game is 24.”
Multiple tributes to Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven other victims in the helicopter crash are expected to take place throughout All-Star weekend.
The 2020 All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT on TNT.