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In the wake of the secretive selection of this year's All-Star teams, Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry is hopeful to carry on tradition and line up next to his budding backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan.
The teams were picked earlier today by the leading vote-getters LeBron James and Stephen Curry, but the selections were not televised at the request of the NBPA, instead being revealed live during the All-Star Weekend festivities on Feb. 18, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.
Lowry is confident the selections will be eventually leaked, but he joked that he'd request a trade (much like Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors) if he was drafted to an opposite team.
“I've got to play with my guy,” said Lowry, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. “We might have to make a trade or something.”
Lowry and DeRozan shared an inspiring friendship on and off the court, which has been deemed inseparable. To put them both on the same team, as they were last season would be ultimately fitting as one of the best one-two punches of this league.
DeRozan was voted a starter, while Lowry earned a reserve nod two days ago, as the selections were announced. Lowry's numbers haven't been on par with last season's gaudy averages, but his coach Dwane Casey made sure to text his colleagues in hopes they would pick him.
“His shooting has been off the charts the last couple games,” Casey said of Lowry. “I think that’s where he really contributes on the offensive end. But then defensively, Kyle’s such a competitor. He’s probably one of the most competitive guys in our league right now when it comes to loose balls, taking charges, all the winning plays you have to have. That’s what he brings. He sets the tone for us from that standpoint.”
