CLEVELAND, OH - February 10th, 2009 - Cleveland Cavaliers’ point guard Mo Williams has been added to the 2009 Eastern Conference All-Star Team by NBA Commissioner David Stern, it was announced today by the NBA. Williams was added in place of Toronto Raptors forward/center Chris Bosh, who will not play due to a sprained right knee. Williams will join teammate LeBron James and Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown in representing the Eastern Conference in the 2009 All-Star Game.
Cleveland’s team stats and success on both ends of the floor have soared with the addition of Williams as their starting point guard this season. On offense, the Cavs have had NBA-best increases in field goal percentage (.035) and points off turnovers (4.1) while increasing their points per game by 4.5 points, the third-highest increase in the league. Defensively, the Cavs have decreased opponent’s field goal percentage by .028, the biggest drop in the NBA, and have lowered opponent’s points per game by 5.8 points, the fourth most in the league.
Williams has played in all 49 games (all starts) this season and has averages of 17.1 points on .461 shooting, 3.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 34.2 minutes per game. The fifth-year guard currently ranks third in the NBA in free throw shooting (.943), second among Eastern Conference point guards in scoring (17.1) and is one of just four players in the NBA shooting at least .460 from the field, .390 from three-point range and .900 from the free throw line.
“It’s unfortunate that Chris Bosh is unable to play in this year’s All-Star Game in Phoenix. The entire Cleveland Cavaliers organization is thankful that the NBA called on Mo’ Williams to take his rightful place on the Eastern Conference squad,” Cleveland Cavaliers Majority Owner said.
Acquired by the Cavaliers on Aug. 13, 2008, Williams will be making his all-star debut. He and LeBron James are now the sixth set of two or more Cavaliers teammates to be named to the All-Star Team in franchise history and the first set since James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were named all-stars in 2005.
Entering tonight’s game at Indiana, Cleveland owns the Eastern Conference’s best record at 39-10 (.796) and have the NBA’s top home record at 23-1.
The 58th NBA All-Star Game will take place in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, February 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET.