Having already been knocked out of the NBA MVP race, it was only a matter of time before Joel Embiid lost his All-Star spot as well. As per standard procedure, it has now been officially announced.
Along with him Julius Randle also gets the axe from NBA All-Star participation. But time and the NBA All-Star game wait for none. With the game days away, NBA has come up with replacements for the duo in swift fashion.
Joel Embiid and Julius Randle NBA All-Star replacement: Who are they?
With the recent injuries, Sixers’ Joel Embiid and Knicks’ Julius Randle are sidelined for the NBA All-Star game. The Sixers star, one of the selections in the NBA All-Star, suffered a major injury, and due of his meniscus surgery, he will miss out on the contest.
The high-flying Knicks has also suffered a blow, with their star forward Julius Randle suffering from a dislocated shoulder and has no chance of returning before 18th February.
As per NBA rules, the commissioner choses the replacements, and so did Adam Silver. He has chosen Trae Young and Scottie Barnes as the replacements for the injured Joel Embiid and Julius Randle to represent the Eastern Conference All-Star Team.
This will count as Young’s third All-Star whereas Barnes will be a debutant. Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has averaged 27.3 points and his career-best 10.9 assists per game so far this season. On the other hand, Barnes was drafted by the Raptors in 2021 and has gradually improved since then. With an average of 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, his selection is not a surprising one.
Trae Young thanks fans for his third NBA All-Star appearance
After his initial snub from the All-Star selection, Trae Young received support from Stephen Curry after their game on Sunday. Curry later revealed what he said to the 25-year-old.
“I told him after the game that it would all come back to him if he continues to approach the game the right way: play with joy, don’t let it build any type of resentment just because he’s not acknowledged,” Curry later said in an interview.
Now that he has been selected, Trae Young has expressed his gratitude for being chosen for the 2024 NBA All-Star game. Young, who ranked second in fan votes, will be making his third appearance in the game.
The 25-year-old took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to thank his fans for their support, stating, “been a star, still a star, & always going to be.”
Fan votes play a significant role in determining the starting lineup, alongside votes from current players and media. Expectations are high for the Hawks guard, and fans hope he will deliver a stellar performance in the game.
