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.
Veteran safety Harrison Smith is back for a 15th season. In what is an unusual…
Ben Shelton has finally ended his awful record against the Carlos Alcaraz-Jannik Sinner duo with…
The LIV Golf League is bankrupt, and the future of the rival league to the…
According to ESPN's new survey of NFL executives and scouts, the popular pick to win…
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a 3-year, $165 million deal.…
For the final play of the game, while trailing 12-7, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood sailed…