The NBA announced Thursday guard DeMar DeRozan has been named as a reserve to the Eastern Conference team for the 2016 All-Star Game. It will mark the first time in team history two players have been selected to the East squad. Kyle Lowry was voted by the fans as a starter last week. Toronto also had two players participate in the 2001 All-Star Game when Vince Carter was joined by Antonio Davis, who was named by the League as an injury replacement.
DeRozan will make his fourth appearance at NBA All-Star Weekend. He played in his first All-Star Game in 2014, scoring eight points in 15 minutes as a reserve for the Eastern Conference. DeRozan also participated in the Taco Bell Skill Challenge in 2014, the Sprite Slam Dunk in 2010 and 2011 and played in the 2011 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge.
DeRozan was selected ninth overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. This season he is averaging career highs in points (23.0) and assists (4.1). He ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring, second in free throws made (308) and third in free throws attempted (365). DeRozan has scored 30 or more points eight times, including a season-high 35 points January 8 at Washington.
A product of USC in his eighth season, DeRozan has career averages of 17.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 488 games with the Raptors. He ranks third on the team’s all-time scoring list (8,643 points) and fourth in games played.
The 65th NBA All-Star Game will tip off on Sunday, February 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the first All-Star Game to be held outside of the United States. The game will be seen by fans in more than 200 countries and territories and will be heard in more than 40 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game in the U.S. for the 14th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 31st year of NBA All-Star coverage.
Sportsnet and TSN television networks will simulcast NBA All-Star 2016 broadcasts in Canada, in association with Turner Sports’ exclusive coverage on TNT in the U.S. This marks the first time the two Canadian networks will simulcast NBA All-Star events domestically.