Hawks guard Trae Young and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes have been named All-Stars, according to the NBA, which announced the two players as Eastern Conference injury replacements (press release).
Young and Barnes will take the spots previously held by Sixers center Joel Embiid (knee) and Knicks forward Julius Randle (shoulder). Both players are sidelined with injuries that are expected to keep them on the shelf well beyond the All-Star break.
Young, 25, has been one of the NBA’s top scorers and play-makers once again in 2023/24, averaging 27.3 points, 10.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in 36.6 minutes per game across 45 appearances. He’s also making 38.4% of his three-point attempts, which would be a career high.
Young’s Hawks are just 22-28 so far this season, which presumably hurt his case in the initial round of All-Star voting. That’s also the case for Barnes, who is having a terrific third season despite Toronto’s underwhelming 17-33 record.
Barnes is averaging career highs in points (20.2), rebounds (8.1), assists (5.8), and blocks (1.5) per game, as well as three-point percentage (36.5%). With Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam no longer on the roster, the former Rookie of the Year is now the unquestioned centerpiece of the Raptors’ long-term plans.
Young was selected as an injury replacement despite the fact that he’s replacing a frontcourt player, signaling that the league felt he was the Eastern Conference’s most notable snub. It’s his third All-Star nod, while Barnes is a first-time All-Star.
Embiid was initially voted a starter, so East coach Doc Rivers will have to select one of the conference’s reserves to replace the reigning MVP in his starting lineup.
Trae should have made it to begin with he’s the most slept on underrated player in the league.
No…inflated numbers bad team. Negative in rating stats.
Trae is a living legend at the pg position & his range/vision/daredevil spirit put great pressure on opposing defenses but last night’s game vs LAC was a perfect example of why his defensive liabilities are so crushing to the Hawks. Clips were getting (& knocking down) open 3s all game long mainly bc our other 4 guys are constantly picking up Trae’s slack on that end. Love his swagger & pretty much everything about his game offensively but I truly hope they trade him on Thursday
I don’t mind Trae, what you say is true though. I still can’t believe Atlanta didn’t draft Luka, same goes for Phoenix. Luka and Booker in the backcourt? Good luck with that.
The sad thing is… Atlanta did draft Luka.
Living legend who doesn’t play D. …..
You do know it’s a 2way sport.
Yeah, great offensive player, sees the floor well, and he’s grown with his basketball IQ, but he’s a complete liability defensively.
It just completely kills his team’s momentum time after time again, and severely negates his offensive value..
He’s still a good player, but for how great he is offensively it just shows really how bad he is defensively to not be seen in a better light.
Tell me you don’t watch the Hawks without telling me you don’t watch the Hawks.
Trae is 8th in steals this year and tied for 9th in charges taken. He will never be a great defender but to say it severely negates his offensive contributions is laughable this year.
The game is played on both ends of the floor. “Legend” status to somebody who gives up as many points as he scores??? No team will ever win with Trae Young. He is great for highlight clips. He is gonna score and dime at a high-rate ….. and at best your team will be mediocre.
@ Sankara
Why would the Hawks trade him?
Here come the weak minded haters…
Crickets. I guess the demand for weak mindedness outpaces the supply, many such cases.
Then there just has to be those obsessed with the comments of others huh?
I’m good with both selections…….
Good selections, I can see why Trae didnt make it at first byt he deserves it. Scottie has been phenomenal as well (better than Randle imo).
The east all stars was never a problem to me, but the west ones…
someone explain to me (like im a 5 year old) how Scottie Barnes has more of an All-Star resume in 2023-24 than Jimmy Butler…. I’ll wait
Jimmy has missed 15 games. Scottie rarely does. Also Scottie is averaging 20ppg, 8 rbs, 6 apg while Jimmy is 21ppg, 5rpg, 4apg.