WASHINGTON – Toronto's Antonio Davis, Miami's Anthony Mason
and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett were chosen as starters for Sunday's
NBA All-Star game, replacing players who can't play.
|
Playin' hooky |
|
Reluctant All-Star Kobe Bryant was fined
$10,000 by the NBA for missing Friday's media day.
Bryant and Los Angeles Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal were the
only no-shows for the annual mass gathering with reporters.
Bryant said Wednesday he wanted to skip Sunday's All-Star Game
because of a sore right shoulder but said he'll play because he
doesn't want to risk being suspended.
O'Neal has already pulled out with a strained right foot, but he
is in town this weekend making public appearances. A decision on
whether to fine O'Neal for missing media day was "under review,"
according to an NBA spokesman. |
Davis and Mason will open for the Eastern Conference team in
place of Miami's Alonzo Mourning and Orlando's Grant Hill, both out
for the season but voted as starters in the fan balloting.
Garnett will start for the Western Conference team, replacing
Shaquille O'Neal, the Los Angeles Lakers' center, who has a foot
injury.
The new starters were chosen by the coaches – Philadelphia's
Larry Brown for the East and Sacramento's Rick Adelman for the
West.
"This is just because of positions," Brown said of his
selections. "We don't have a lot of size, but because of their
starting lineup, that's probably the appropriate thing to do. I
don't feel comfortable picking anybody – they all deserve it."
Adelman said the choice of Garnett was based on trying to get
good matchups against the East.
"They got all the little guys, we got all the big guys,"
Adelman said, "so I guess I'll play zone." Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
Super soph: Szczerbiak nabs Rookie Challenge MVP
AUDIO VIDEO
 The fans voted Alonzo Mourning and Grant Hill in, but is it justified? ESPN's Mark Schwarz reports.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
David Robinson thinks Kobe Bryant has to stay healthy for the rest of the regular season.
avi: 1208 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Grant Hill says everyone in the NBA has some type of injury.
avi: 913 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Larry Brown says he has no right to tell a player what to do in terms of his health.
avi: 1124 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
