Earlier this month, Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo was named one of the five starters for the Eastern Conference in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. A lot of people thought that Damian Lillard was going to be a starter but he was not mentioned as one.
The other four starters in the Eastern Conference were Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Thursday night, the reserves for the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference were announced.
Milwaukee Bucks Damian Lillard Named As An Eastern Conference Reserve On Thursday
For the ninth time in his NBA career, Damian Lillard was named to the NBA All-Star Game. Last year, he was the MVP of the NBA All-Star Game and it will be interesting to see what he can do for an encore this time around. It is not a surprise that he is an all-star this season.
He and Giannis Antetokounmpo have carried the Milwaukee Bucks to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference this season with a 26-19 record. Milwaukee once started the season 2-8. This season, Lillard is averaging 25.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, and shooting 45.2% from the field.
Damian Lillard is 12th in the NBA in points per game and 10th in assists per game. Some of the other reserves for the game this season are Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lillard has been an all-star several times before with the Portland Trail Blazers. Outside of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo this season, it has been a mystery with this basketball team.
Fans React
Should’ve been a starter but we move
— Pruntdog_enjoyer (@freAK34_MKE) January 30, 2025
Looking forward to Lillard defending his ASG MVP 🏆
— Derek 🍣 Tadashiroll (@tadashiroll) January 30, 2025
Congrats! to Dame for a 9th time! #FeartheDeer
— CourtVisionB (@CourtVisionB) January 31, 2025
Should’ve started but we move regardless
— CreamcityBucks (@FR3AKYTim3) January 30, 2025
Shoulda been starter
— ASHAR AKUMPO (@Funaplant01) January 30, 2025
Many Bucks fans believe that he should have started the all-star game this year, but the truth is that he was not going to go ahead of Jalen Brunson or Donovan Mitchell. Brunson is the star guard on the New York Knicks and Donovan Mitchell has led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the top record in the east.
However, it would have been ridiculous had Giannis Antetokounmpo not been a starter this season. Lillard being in the game is better than not having him in it at all.
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