Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was announced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as a replacement in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. He will replace Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin, who will have surgery to remove a staph infection on his elbow later today.
“I am thankful,” Lillard told Yahoo! Sports upon hearing the news. I feel bad for Blake, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to be there.” It will be Lillard’s second straight All-Star appearance.
Lillard had been very vocal in how disappointed he was about originally not making the All-Star roster. After not being picked as a reserve by NBA coaches or as an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant, Lillard posted on Instagram about how “disappointed” and “disrespected” he felt. The post has since been removed. Lillard also planned on dropping out of the Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday to protest his snub, but has now retracted that and will take part in the event with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
On January 15, former NBA Champion Gus Williams died from complications of a stroke. Williams,…
On March 11, University of Louisville Athletics Hall of Famer Junior Bridgeman died from a…
Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte recently announced that he would auction off three of the…
On March 5, tennis legend Fred Stolle died from cancer at 86 years old. Stolle…
On January 16, legendary sports broadcaster Bob Uecker passed away from lung cancer. Before his…
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson left the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots…