Before Thursday’s 121-107 win against the Charlotte Hornets, Wizards coach Scott Brooks made one last passionate defense as to why, in his view, Bradley Beal deserved to be named an All-Star.
But in the end, Brooks’ fellow coaches did not agree.
Beal was left off the list of reserves when the league announced the All-Star Game’s full rosters Thursday evening, missing out on his third straight appearance. Despite being ranked sixth in scoring, Beal becomes the first player since Purvis Short in the 1984-85 season to average at least 28 points per game and not make the All-Star Game.
Beal once seemed like a near-lock to travel to Chicago for All-Star Weekend in February. But his candidacy was likely hurt by his team’s measly 16-31 record, and by the 26-year-old’s defense. Beal, too, was only shooting 31.8% from deep this season, entering the night.
If Beal was frustrated by the result, he unleashed his fury on the Hornets. He scored 34 points on just seven makes — adding 14 points off free throws. He had nine rebounds and nine assists. It was, ironically, an All-Star-caliber performance.
But NBA coaches chose the following players to represent the Eastern Conference: Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Miami’s Bam Adebayo and Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis.
Coaches, who vote for the reserves, could only select three frontcourt players, two backcourt players and two “wild cards” (any position.) Those reserves will join starters Trae Young, Kemba Walker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam and Joel Embiid.
In the West, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City’s Chirs Paul, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Houston’s Russell Westbrook and Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were named as reserves. They join James Harden, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis.
Now, Beal can only make the All-Star Game if one of the Eastern Conference’s players withdraw due to injury. Even then, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will have to name him as a replacement.
Before the reserves were announced, the NBA also revealed a series of changes to the All-Star Game — introducing a format to honor the late Kobe Bryant. The two teams will now play in an event in which the score “resets” after the end of the first three quarters, before playing toward a target score in the fourth. When the fourth quarter happens, the cumulative score is added up and the final score ill be determined by adding 24 points to the highest total.
Confused? Here’s an example: If Team LeBron is up 100-95 after three quarters, then they would win the game if they reached “124” in the fourth. Team Giannis would win if they reached 124 first.
Twenty-four, of course, is a nod to Bryant, who wore No.24 in the latter half of his career.
The game will also be played for charity. Team LeBron and Team Giannis will each get their own respective charities and the winner of each earns $100,000 for the first three quarters and then that amount jumps to $200,000 in the fourth.
Before their win, the Wizards also honored Bryant with a pre-game moment of silence and a tribute video. Players also wore No. 8 and 24 jerseys in warmups
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