Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com
Three weeks until All-Star 2016 tips off in Toronto, things are officially off to a proper start. Thanks to the dedication of Raptors fans across the globe, Kyle Lowry has been named an All-Star starter for the second year in a row. The selection makes him the third player in team history to start in multiple All-Star games (along with Vince Carter and Chris Bosh), and it came after a late push from fans to help overtake Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and join Miami’s Dwyane Wade in the East backcourt. Lowry finished second among East guards with 646,441 votes, edging out Irving by 65,790 votes.
Lowry received the news with his teammates, while attending the team’s Raps City Social in support of the MLSE Foundation. Upon learning he’d been voted in, he immediately took to Twitter to show his appreciation to Raptors fans.
He then recorded a short clip, and was unable to wipe the smile off his face.
Through 42 games, the Raptors are second in the Eastern Conference with a 27-15 record, largely because of the play of the backcourt duo of Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Lowry is averaging 20.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game. The points, steals and rebounds are all career-best numbers. Lowry is second in the league and first in the Eastern Conference for steals. His 38.3 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line and 2.7 threes per game are also career-highs. It would be difficult to overstate his play and importance to the team in the first half of the season. The floor general, emotional leader, and fourth-quarter scorer pushes his teammates daily.
“He’s one of our leaders,” Cory Joseph said. “He makes big plays for us. He’s an All-Star. Obviously, he was an All-Star before, but this year, for sure. When he gets it going, we look at it and that’s the example for us. That’s what All-Stars do.”
DeMar DeRozan was quick to chime in with congratulations for Lowry, but not without poking a little fun at his co-captain first.
In typical fashion, Lowry was even quicker to respond to DeRozan’s ribbing.
Lowry and Wade will be joined by Cleveland’s LeBron James, Indiana’s Paul George and New York’s Carmelo Anthony in the starting lineup. In the Western Conference, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers led all vote-getters to make his 18th All-Star appearance in his final season. Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard make up the rest of the West’s starting lineup.
With the starters selected, NBA coaches will now select the reserves to round out each roster. Coaches will select two guards, three backcourt players and two additional players from either position from their conference. They may not vote for players on their own team. Reserves will be announced Thursday, Jan 28, shortly before Toronto's game against the New York Knicks. Prior to Toronto's victory against Boston on Wednesday, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens shared his thoughts on the Raptors backcourt.
“They’re gonna be All-Stars,” Stevens said. “I have no doubt about that.”
Lowry isn’t the only Raptor having a career year. DeRozan is in the midst of the best stretch of his seven-years as a pro, averaging 23 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He’s shooting 8.3 free throws per game. James Harden is the only player with more made free throws. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep him out of the lane and off the line.
“Scoring at will,” Patrick Patterson said of his teammate. “He’s in a zone right now. Shooting the ball, knocking it down consistently, attacking the basket, finishing at the rim with contact. It’s all confidence. He’s rising to the occasion every night.”
Selected as a reserve in 2014, DeRozan was unable to repeat last season after suffering a groin injury that kept him sidelined for 21 games. Suiting up alongside his teammate in the arena that’s been his NBA homecourt since being drafted in 2009 would be special.
“Words can’t describe that,” Lowry said after practice on Thursday. “It’s one of those things where hopefully we both get in there and we get to share that moment together. “For him being in a situation where this team wasn’t so good seven years ago to a team where we’re second place in the East right now, I know it means so much to him.”