Numerous players are honored with a selection to the 2008 NBA All Star Game.
There is always much controversy over the NBA All Star rosters. The truth to the matter is that there's simply never enough roster spots for all the deserving players in the league.
The NBA All Star starters for the Eastern and Western Conference squads are selected by fans through a voting process, while the reserves are selected by NBA coaches. Here are the rosters for the 2008 NBA All Star game, to be held February 17.
Western Conference All Stars
Starters
- C. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
- F. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- F. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
- G. Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
- G. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Reserves
- C. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
- F. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz
- F. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
- F. David West, New Orleans Hornets
- G. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
- G. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
- G. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
Eastern Conference All Stars
Starters
- C. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
- F. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
- F. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
- G. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
- G. Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
Reserves
- F. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
- F. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
- F. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
- F. Caron Butler, Washington Wizards
- G. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
- G. Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
- G. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
All Star Snubs
Here are players whom one could make cases for.
- Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors - Baron's having an excellent season, averaging 22.3 ppg, 8.1 apg, 2.5 spg, while leading the Warriors to a respectable 28-19 record. Many thought he would have been picked over, say, David West of the Hornets.
- Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors - The team has won 27 of its last 40 since he's come back from injury. His 20.5 ppg is a career high.
- Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks - Howard made his first All Star appearance last season and his numbers are actually improved this season. 20.8 ppg, 7.5 rbpg are both career highs.
- Al Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves - 21.2 ppg and 12.2 rbpg is nothing to sneeze at. Yet, he plays for one of the worst teams in the league.
- Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers - He's putting up All Star numbers (17.2 ppg, 13.9 rbpg and 3.0 bspg), but much of that is because Elton Brand is hurt.
- Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets - He loses the reserve spot to Amare Stoudemire, but many believe that Camby - not Iverson or Anthony - is the team's Most Valuable Player. Camby's defense is without compare and he leads the league in blocked shots (3.9 per game) and is second in boards (14.3 per game).
- Deron Williams, Utah Jazz - This exceptional floor general is fourth in the league in assists (9.5 per game) to go along with 19.1 ppg. In addition, he's a point guard who shoots 51.5% from the field and is a big reason why the Jazz are at the top of the Northwest Division with a 28-18 record.
- Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs' season has been bumpy, but Ginobili has been excellent. In just 30 minutes per game, Manu is averaging 19.5 ppg, 4.8 rbpg, 4.2 apg and 1.7 spg. To give an idea as to just how good that is, projected over about 37 minutes per night - which is about how many minutes Kobe Bryant averages - Ginobili would average 24 ppg, 5.9 rbpg, 5.2 apg and 2.1 spg.
- Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs - Parker's one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. With 19.2 ppg and 6.1 apg, he also shoots 49% from the field and is a vital part of the Spurs' rotation.
- Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic - "Turk" is having a career year, partly because of the addition of Rashard Lewis. Last season, there wasn't much to divert defenders away from Hedo. Now that Lewis is in the lineup, Turkoglu has much more freedom, which has resulted in 19.5 ppg, 6.2 rbpg and 4.3 apg.
- Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors - Calderon's been fantastic with T.J. Ford out of the lineup. His 12.3 ppg and 8.8 apg are a big reason why the Raptors are still in the playoff mix.
- Richard Jefferson, New Jersey Nets - The Nets may be struggling, but Jefferson is having a career year, averaging 24.0 ppg.
- Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks - Redd is doing what Redd does best. His 23.0 ppg leads the Bucks' offense.
- Ray Allen, Boston Celtics - Many believe Allen deserved an All Star spot given what the Celtics have done this season. Though he's a star and one of Boston's "big three" (along with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce), he's the third option and just misses being selected.
- Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats - Wallace is all energy and grit, which translates well to his 21.4 ppg, 6.2 rbpg and 2.2 spg.
The Western Conference All Stars will be coached by Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets, while the Eastern Conference All Stars will be coached by Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics.
Also check out:
- NBA All Star Game History
- History of the Three-Point Shooting Contest
- History of the Slam Dunk Contest
- The 2008 Should Be NBA All Stars
- NBA All Star Game Needs Repair
The copyright of the article 2008 NBA All Star Teams Announced in NBA is owned by Phil Partington. Permission to republish 2008 NBA All Star Teams Announced in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
