#Nets Lopez Selected To The All-Star Game
Nets’ Lopez named All-Star to replace Rondo
Official release
NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. Lopez, who will make his first All-Star Game appearance, is averaging 18.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 38 games for the Nets who stand in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 27-18 record.
Brook Lopez statement – “It’s a huge honor. First and foremost I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, they make my job 100 times easier, playing with Deron, Joe, Gerald, they gift wrap me buckets and take a lot of attention away from me on the court. Its is something I have been working towards and its been a goal of mine and it will definitely be an exciting weekend.”
READ my article from yesterday
The idea that Lopez was not selected as an All-Star by the coaches was ludicrous and it looks as if David Stern has righted the ship and made the correct decision to add him to this years game.
P.J. Carlesimo on Lopez selection – “Obviously, we were pulling for one of our guys when Rajon went down, we were hopeful. We had three candidates, two if they went with a guard and obviously Brook if that’s what the commissioner’s rationale was. I don’t think Brook gets selected if we’re not having the kind of year we’re having. The team feels good about it too and the way they played had a lot to do with Brook getting selected.”
Brook Lopez’s first All-Star appearance is the 13th All-Star appearance overall in Nets franchise history. Lopez will hold the title of the first Brooklyn Nets player to be named to an All-Star team.
The Nets are 25-13 with Lopez on the court and looked like a completely different team when he was injured early in the year when he missed seven games. This injury only solidified my thoughts about how pivotal Lopez is to the Nets success in their first year in Brooklyn.