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Kevin Durant's hamstring strain has resulted in a number of changes to the upcoming 2021 NBA All-Star Game, with the latest being Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum's insertion into the starting lineup.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reported Tatum has been selected to replace Durant as an Eastern Conference starter.
BOSTON'S Jayson Tatum is now a starter in Kevin Durant's place, NBA says
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 26, 2021
Stein also reported the NBA has yet to decide who will replace Durant as one of the two team captains after it was announced the Indiana Pacers forward was taking his spot in the Eastern Conference frontcourt.
Indiana's Domantas Sabonis will replace Brooklyn's Kevin Durant as an East All-Star, sources say, but a decision has not yet been made on how to handle the East captaincy now that Durant is not playing.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 26, 2021
Tatum is having a brilliant season in Boston.
The former Duke star continues to blossom into a superstar, averaging career-highs in points (25.6) and assists (4.5) while also pulling down close to seven rebounds per game. Tatum consistently sets the tone with his two-way brilliance, though the Celtics have not been much better for it recently.
Boston has fallen to ninth in the Eastern Conference after losing its third straight at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. The Celtics began the season at 8-3, but have gone just 7-14 since Jan. 15.
This losing skid seemed to come to a head against the Hawks, as Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to shoot 10-for-36 from the field and 1-for-14 from beyond the arc. There has also been some internal strife, with Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck and general manager Dany Ainge both questioning the team's contender status.
Tatum's selection as an All-Star starter is a nice honor and a good reprieve from all the negativity. But the 22-year-old would likely sacrifice the distinction for greater team success going forward.
