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LaMelo Ball becomes fourth-youngest All-Star in NBA history after replacing Kevin Durant

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Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball named as an injury replacement for 2022 All-Star Game

NBA has announced that LaMelo Ball will replace Kevin Durant as an All-Star reserve from the Eastern Conference for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 20 in Cleveland. He is the first Hornets player to earn the honour since Kemba Walker in 2019.

Ball becomes the fourth-youngest All Star in NBA history. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

Ball will replace injured Eastern Conference captain Kevin Durant, while Spurs’ Dejounte Murray will replace Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. Ball averages 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 47 games. He ranks 10th in assists in the league this season. The young star is also the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach five career-triple doubles.

Murray, on the other hand, has been impressive for the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the team’s worries, he has averaged a career-best 19.6 points and 9.2 assists per game, with 2.1 steals per game (1st in NBA). He is also a frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award.

Durant is out due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He was a leading candidate to win the MVP award this season before the devastating injury. The 33-year old is averaging 29.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 36 games. Draymond Green, meanwhile, suffered from a lower back/disc injury. In his presence, the Warriors have been a dominating force in the West. Green averages 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.38 steals and 1.21 blocks in 34 games.

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Team LeBron vs Team Durant

Eastern Conference Roster

PLAYERTEAMPOSITION
Trae Young*Atlanta HawksGuard
DeMar DeRozan*Chicago BullsGuard
Kevin Durant* (team captain, will not play due to injury)Brooklyn NetsFrontcourt
Giannis Antetokounmpo*Milwaukee BucksFrontcourt
Joel Embiid*Philadelphia 76ersFrontcourt
Jayson Tatum* (replacement starter for injured Durant)Boston CelticsFrontcourt
Zach LaVineChicago BullsGuard
James HardenBrooklyn NetsGuard
Khris MiddletonMilwaukee BucksFrontcourt
Darius GarlandCleveland CavaliersWildcard
Fred VanVleetToronto RaptorsWildcard
LaMelo Ball (injury replacement player)Charlotte HornetsGuard

Western Conference Roster

PLAYERTEAMPOSITION
Stephen Curry*Golden State WarriorsGuard
Ja Morant*Memphis GrizzliesGuard
LeBron James* (captain)Los Angeles LakersFrontcourt
Nikola Jokic*Denver NuggetsFrontcourt
Andrew Wiggins*Golden State WarriorsFrontcourt
Devin BookerPhoenix SunsGuard
Chris PaulPhoenix SunsGuard
Rudy GobertUtah JazzFrontcourt
Draymond Green (will not play due to injury)Golden State WarriorsFrontcourt
Karl-Anthony TownsMinnesota TimberwolvesFrontcourt
Luka DoncicDallas MavericksWildcard
Donovan MitchellUtah JazzWildcard
Dejounte Murray (injury replacement player)San Antonio SpursGuard

*Starter

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