Rowan Kavner
NEW ORLEANS – Chris Paul has been named a Western Conference All-Star reserve, marking Paul’s eighth straight All-Star Game selection.
This is the third trip as a reserve for Paul, who’s started five All-Star Games in his career. He said earlier this season that it’s special to get in both ways.
“I’ve actually had the opportunity to do both, to be a starter which is cool when the fans vote you in, because it means they want to see you; then it’s also a very big honor when the coaches do it, because those are your peers,” Paul said. “It’s always a huge honor to be an All-Star.”
Paul was the 2013 All-Star Game MVP, scoring 20 points and adding 15 assists and four steals while going 7-of-10 from the floor. Paul knows there is, as he described it, “a whole lot more” than just the game, but he added that it’s always a special experience.
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland), Tim Duncan (San Antonio), Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), James Harden (Houston) and Klay Thompson (Golden State) will join Paul as reserves on the Western Conference team this season.
Griffin was already named a starter in the All-Star Game, and he’ll join Paul as a member of the Western Conference team for the fifth straight year. Griffin’s 38 points in last year’s All-Star Game was a franchise record and the third most in All-Star Game history.
Here’s a look back at how both Paul and Griffin have performed in past All-Star Games.
- 2008 – Paul scored 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting, adding 14 assists, four steals and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
- 2009 – Paul started for the first time in an All-Star Game, scoring 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while adding 14 assists and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.
- 2010 – Paul was voted in but couldn’t play because of an injury.
- 2011 – This marked the first year both Paul and Griffin got in. Paul started, scoring 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting and adding seven assists, five steals and four rebounds in 28 minutes. In just 14 minutes of action, Griffin managed to score eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, adding five assists and five rebounds.
- 2012 – This was the first year both Paul and Griffin started. Paul scored eight points and added 12 assists, five rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes of action. Griffin scored 22 points and added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals on 9-of-12 shooting in 31 minutes.
- 2013 – Paul and Griffin both started again, with Paul earning MVP honors by scoring 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and a 4-of-5 mark from 3-point range, while dishing out 15 assists and recording four steals in 27 minutes. Griffin scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting, pulled in three rebounds and recorded three assists, two steals and a block in 27 minutes.
- 2014 – Griffin started and thrived, scoring 38 points on 19-of-23 shooting in 31 minutes, while also adding six rebounds. Paul came off the bench for a double-double, scoring 11 points and adding 13 assists, four rebounds and three steals.