Fitzgerald Cecilio

Houston, TX

Tim Duncan, Tyson Chandler and James Harden are among the the reserve players announced by the NBA for the 2013 All-Star Game.

Selected by coaches from across the Association, reserves are meant to honor those players having top seasons that fans sometimes overlook.

Duncan becomes just the eighth player in NBA history to be named an All-Star 14-or-more times. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Jerry West.

Duncan was selected as an All-Star in each of his first 13 NBA seasons joining Bob Cousy, West and O'Neal as the only players in history to accomplish that feat.

This season Duncan is averaging 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.74 blocks in 30.2 minutes while shooting .505 (295-584) from the field and a career-best .826 (142-172) from the foul line.

Tyson Chandler protects the rim at all times and an expert at defending the pick-and-roll, alters far more shots than his 1.0 block per game would indicate and is averaging five more rebounds per game than any of his teammates.

He's shooting a league-high 67.4 percent from the field this season and has taken 86.2 percent of his shots at the rim, per Basketball-Reference.com.

James Harden has exceeded everyone's expectations with 25.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Rockets are at 22-22 heading into Thursday night and hanging onto the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. He ranks seventh in win shares (6.0) and is the only Rockets player inside the top 60 in the statistic.

The Eastern Conference All-Star starting lineup are Rajon Rondo (PG, Boston Celtics), Dwyane Wade (SG, Miami Heat), LeBron James (F, Miami Heat), Carmelo Anthony (F, New York Knicks) and Kevin Garnett (F/C, Boston Celtics)

The reserves are Jrue Holiday (PG, Philadelphia 76ers), Kyrie Irving (PG, Cleveland Cavaliers), Chris Bosh (F/C, Miami Heat), Tyson Chandler (C, New York Knicks), Joakim Noah (C, Chicago Bulls), Paul George (SF, Indiana Pacers) and Luol Deng (SF, Chicago Bulls).

The Western Conference All-Star Starting Lineup are Chris Paul (PG, Los Angeles Clippers), Kobe Bryant (SG, Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Durant (SF, Oklahoma City Thunder), Blake Griffin (PF, Los Angeles Clippers) and FC Dwight Howard (C, Los Angeles Lakers)

The reserves are Tony Parker (PG, San Antonio Spurs), Russell Westbrook (PG, Oklahoma City Thunder), Tim Duncan (F/C San Antonio Spurs), Zach Randolph (PF, Memphis Grizzlies), LaMarcus Aldridge (PF, Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (SG, Houston Rockets) and David Lee (PF, Golden State Warriors).

 

 

 

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Duncan and Harden Among Top Reserves Selected to NBA All-Star Game