DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki will represent the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game, the league announced tonight. Nowitzki will appear in his 12th career All-Star Game, more than any other player in franchise history. Rolando Blackman is second in franchise history with four All-Star appearances.
In 45 games this season, Nowitzki is averaging a team-high 21.6 points along with 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 32.4 minutes per contest. The Wurzburg, Germany native is shooting .483 from the field, .393 from behind-the-arc and .908 from the free throw line.
Nowitzki’s 12th All-Star appearance was announced just one day after he became just the 13th player in NBA history to record his 26,000th point. Nowitzki and fellow All-Star Kobe Bryant are the only active players to have reached the 26,000-point plateau.
“I have been a part of All-Star weekend every year since I have been in the league and not being there last year felt strange,” Nowitzki said. “The Dallas fan base has always been great to me and the Mavericks’ organization and the city deserves to be represented at the All-Star Game. I appreciate my teammates for putting me in the best position to succeed and again be named to the Western Conference All-Star team. I am excited to represent the Mavericks in New Orleans and I look forward to returning to my team and making a great run at the playoffs. ”
The Dallas forward had previously been named to 11 consecutive All-Star Games in a streak that ended last year after Nowitzki missed the first 27 games of the season recovering from surgery to his right knee.
Nowitzki is joined on the West team by reserves LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets), Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) and Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers). Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers) and Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves) were selected by fans as the West’s starters.
The 2014 NBA All-Star Game will be played at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014. It will air live at 7 p.m. CT on TNT and ESPN Radio.
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