The votes are in, and one Milwaukee Bucks player is making franchise history. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game. The 22-year-old is the sixth player in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history to have the honor to be i the starting line-up.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports
The 22-year-old Antetokounmpo was named to the Eastern Conference all-star team’s starting five for the Feb. 19 game in New Orleans, in voting by fans, players and media. The official announcement was made during a TNT telecast Thursday night.
Antetokounpo drew wide support, finishing second to Cleveland’s LeBron James among East frontcourt players in all three segments of the voting — by fans, players and media. The Bucks player drew 1,604,463 votes from the fans. His weighted score of 2.0 trailed only James (1.0) and Kyrie Irving (1.5) in the East. Cavaliers point guard Irving and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan were named to the East backcourt, and Chicago forward and former Marquette star Jimmy Butler was the third frontcourt player selected. Butler edged Philadelphia rookie Joel Embiid, who was third in the fan voting but only eighth among the player votes and fifth in the media balloting.
In the West, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook was not selected, although he is sure to be added as a reserve next week. The West starting five will be Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Houston’s James Harden in the backcourt, and the Warriors’ Kevin Durant, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans’ Antonio Davis in the frontcourt.
Antetokoumpo becomes the first Bucks player selected to be an all-star since 2004, when Michael Redd was named as a reserve. The 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo, who can defend all five positions, is the first Bucks starter in 31 years.
For more on Antetokoumpo, visit Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
