SAN ANTONIO – The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan and guard Tony Parker have been selected by NBA head coaches to play in the 2013 All-Star Game to be held on Sunday, Feb. 17 in Houston. This marks the 15th time in franchise history that the Spurs have sent multiple players to the All-Star Game.
With his 14th All-Star selection Duncan becomes just the eighth player in NBA history to be named an All-Star 14-or-more times (joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 19 selections, Shaquille O’Neal, 15, Kobe Bryant, 15, Kevin Garnett, 15, Michael Jordan, 14, Karl Malone, 14 and Jerry West, 14). Duncan was selected as an All-Star in each of his first 13 NBA seasons (there was no All-Star Game held in 1999 due to the NBA lockout), joining Bob Cousy, West and O’Neal as the only players in history to accomplish that feat. He was named the co-MVP of the 2000 All-Star Game along with O’Neal. In NBA All-Star history, Duncan ranks fifth in rebounds with 124 (behind Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell). Among active players in NBA All-Star action, he ranks first in rebounds (124) and sixth in points (136). 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.
Parker earns his second consecutive All-Star selection and his fifth overall. He joins George Gervin (9), David Robinson (10) and Duncan (14) as the only players in Spurs franchise history to be selected as an All-Star five-or-more times. In his four All-Star appearances, Parker has averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.
Joining the two Spurs players as reserves on the West squad are: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), David Lee (Golden State Warriors), Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder). Voted to start for the West were Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers), Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwight Howard (L.A. Lakers) and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder).
NBA Commissioner David Stern will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game. If the injured player is a starter, the head coach of that team will determine who replaces him in the starting lineup.
The 2013 NBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 6 p.m. (Central) on Sunday, Feb. 17, from Toyota Center in Houston. The game will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.