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Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook was named to the Western Conference All-Star team along with six other players on Thursday. Many were surprised that Westbrook, who is averaging a triple-double through 46 games (30.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists), was not voted a starter. The voting process, new for the 2016-17 season, placed 50 percent weight on fan vote, and 25 percent for both players and media votes.
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Under these circumstances, Westbrook finished third behind Golden State's Stephen Curry and Houston's James Harden.
Los Angeles Clippers' center DeAndre Jordan and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward were named All-Stars for the first time.
Controversial Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins is an All-Star for the third straight season. Cousins is averaging a career-high 28 points per game in his seventh season.
A pair of Golden State Warriors teammates, guard Klay Thompson and forward Draymond Green, and Memphis center Marc Gasol round out the Western Conference team.
The Eastern Conference squad will be guard heavy after four guards were named reserves on Thursday.
Washington Wizards guard John Wall is averaging a career-high 23.1 points, 10.1 assists and an NBA-high 2.2 steals per game. He will be making his fourth All-Star appearance.
Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics finished fourth in the fan voting, which scuttled any chance he had at starting. But his 29.1 points per game and playmaking ability made him a certain reserve. This will be his second appearance.
Being named an All-Star for the first time is Charlotte's Kemba Walker. Walker is averaging 23 points per game and is shooting a career-best 41 percent from the 3-point line.
Toronto's Kyle Lowry, who is averaging a career-best 22.4 points and 6.9 assists was named an All-Star for the third time.
Rounding out the Eastern squad is Indianapolis forward Paul George, Cleveland forward Kevin Love and Atlanta forward Paul Millsap. George (22.2 points) will be making his fourth appearance in an All-Star Game, as will Love, who is averaging 20.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Millsap (18.0 points) will also be making his fourth All-Star appearance.
Notable players who were not named to the team include Philadelphia center Joel Embiid and Miami center Hassan Whiteside. Embiid is averaging 19.8 points per game while Whiteside averages 16.9 points and 13.9 rebounds per game.
New York forward Carmelo Anthony and Chicago guard Dwyane Wade also were left off the team.
The Western Conference team will be without two-time Portland All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who is averaging 26.2 points, third-best among guards in the Western Conference. Also missing the cut was forward LaMarcus Aldridge (17.6 points and 7.1 rebounds) of San Antonio.
The starters for the West will be San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard, Golden State's Kevin Durant and Curry, New Orleans' Anthony Davis and Houston's Harden.
Starting for the East will be Cleveland's LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Chicago's Jimmy Butler, Toronto's DeMar DeRozan and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo.
