In a recent turn of events, De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs will step in for the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo at the NBA All-Star Game. The league has confirmed this substitution ahead of the highly anticipated event.
Fox’s All-Star Appearance
This will mark Fox’s second appearance at the All-Star Game, following his first participation in 2023. His performance this season reflects strong contributions to the Spurs, averaging:
- 19.4 points
- 3.8 rebounds
- 6.3 assists
- 1.27 steals
The Spurs hold an impressive 38-16 record, positioning them as the second seed in the Western Conference.
Antetokounmpo’s Absence
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo will remain in Los Angeles as he has committed to coaching during Friday’s celebrity game. The Greek star has been sidelined since January 23 due to an injury sustained in a game against the Denver Nuggets.
Antetokounmpo is having an outstanding season, averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds over 30 games. Unfortunately, he will join Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada in withdrawing from the All-Star Game.
Other Notable Withdrawals and Replacements
The All-Star Game format will showcase a U.S.-versus-World matchup for the first time. In addition to Antetokounmpo and Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry has also withdrawn from the American team.
In response to these changes, the following players have been named as injury replacements:
- Brandon Ingram (Toronto Raptors) – replacing Stephen Curry
- Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets) – replacing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Norman Powell (Miami Heat) – moving to Team World
As the NBA prepares for this year’s All-Star Game, the dynamics of the teams continue to shift with these notable additions and withdrawals.
