Tag: 2023 NBA All-Star

Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan named All-Star for second-straight season

This marks DeRozan’s sixth-time as an NBA All-Star.

On Thursday, the reserves for the NBA All-Star Game were announced, which included a member of the Chicago Bulls.

DeMar DeRozan was chosen by the coaches as an All-Star for the second-straight season and his sixth overall.

“It’s beyond exciting,” DeRozan said prior to Thursday’s game. “To still be playing, all the things I’ve accomplished in my career, I can’t even lie to you, it’s a lot of stuff I still don’t believe I’ve accomplished being from Compton, Calif., and all the personal stuff I’ve been through.”

Though the Bulls have been up and down all season, DeRozan is still playing at a high level, averaging 26.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.

“I just hope anybody out there, whatever field you work in, never listens to outside noise of people doubting you, counting you out,” DeRozan added. “As long as you’re true to yourself, believe in yourself, you keep putting in the work with a genuine heart and passion, you’ll be rewarded.”

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Charles Barkley pricelessly roasted LeBron James’ age while revealing he was an All-Star captain

Barkley was TOO funny here!

On Thursday night, the 2023 NBA All-Star starters were revealed. As is usually the case, there were your requisite snubs (seriously, no Joel Embiid?). On the flip side, there were your puzzling selections (Zion Williamson over who?).

But one of the least surprising picks was LeBron James, who will again be an All-Star captain as he gets set to play in the 19th All-Star Game of his career. The NBA on TNT crew let Charles Barkley take a crack at revealing James’ captain status live on air.

With James approaching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record at the age of 38, Barkley had a hilarious way of commemorating the superstar’s incredible longevity in the NBA:

“The captain! He’s 96 years old! He’s gonna become the all-time leading scorer soon! LeBron James!”

Oh, man. Only Barkley could deliver such a line so seamlessly (and fearlessly) about an all-time great live on air. In a way, Barkley’s joke was a celebration of James.

James has played pro basketball for almost two decades and remains one of the best players in the world to this day. He’s not even close to 96 years old, but it does indeed feel like he’s been dominating the NBA forever.

Zion Williamson leapfrogged Anthony Davis to be an All-Star starter, and fans had mixed thoughts

This was a REALLY controversial pick.

The 2023 NBA All-Star starters were announced Thursday night, and we saw a few familiar superstars. To name a few: LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Nikola Jokic. There were, of course, also the customary snubs. (Where’s Joel Embiid?)

But one 2023 All-Star starter selection had parts of the NBA world raising its brow (no pun intended).

After missing the entire 2021-2022 campaign, the New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson was named an All-Star starter for the first time in his young career. While Williamson has had a special season — averaging 26 points, seven rebounds, and almost five assists — he hasn’t played a game since early January thanks to a hamstring strain.

This distinction made some believe that the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (27 points, 12 boards, 2.6 assists) deserved a starting spot more than Williamson. Davis has had his fair share of health issues this year, too, but has played in just three fewer games than the Pelicans’ talisman.

Naturally, Williamson leapfrogging Davis created a schism in the basketball community.