Subscribe
Follow Us
The 2018 All-Star Game starters were announced last night. Alongside Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, Toronto Raptors wing DeMar DeRozan was a backcourt selection to start in the 67th annual classic as fans, players, and media members contributed to DeRozan being named as a starter for a second straight season. Head coach Dwane Casey felt his work was not done yet, as he has been pushing for point guard Kyle Lowry to be chosen as one of the seven reserves from the East.
Coaches around the league will be in charge of voting for the players that come off the bench in the All-Star Game.
According to TSN Sports' Josh Lewenberg, Casey has already started texting other coaches in an attempt to persuade them and choose the 31-year old Lowry.
“He should be in on his own merits, I shouldn't have to do that (texting coaches) because he is an All-Star,” said Casey. “If you find five better guards in our conference than Kyle I want to see them.”
Casey is making an effort to help get his player into the game and said he likes Lowry's chances.
Article Continues Below
“I think the basketball gods will do the right thing and get him in,” the coach added.
Lowry is a three-time All-Star, and has been selected every year since 2015. He actually started in the 2015 game and was chosen as a reserve the past two years.
The 6-foot guard arguably deserves the nod, but there is no denying most of his numbers are down from last season and have lacked the All-Star caliber of previous seasons — 16.2 points, 6.9 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals on 41.6 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
Of course, those are not bad stats at all, but with other stars like Victor Oladipo, Bradley Beal, and Kemba Walker in line for their own spot and with better numbers — don't consider Lowry a lock for the All-Star Game yet.
