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Damian Lillard named All-Star replacement for Blake Griffin

Craig Mitchelldyer / USA Today Sports

So much for Damian Lillard's revenge tour. 

After getting snubbed from the Western Conference All-Star team twice - first when the coaches failed to vote him in, then when commissioner Adam Silver tapped DeMarcus Cousins as Kobe Bryant's replacement - and subsequently kicking up a whole lot of dirt, Lillard has finally been added to the roster. 

The NBA announced Sunday that the Portland Trail Blazers point guard will replace Blake Griffin, who is sidelined indefinitely due to a staph infection in his elbow. 

"I am thankful," Lillard told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. "I feel bad for Blake, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to be there."

Steve Kerr, who is coaching the West All-Stars, now has to pick two new starters for his squad, as both Bryant and Griffin were voted in by the fans. The power to choose injury replacements belongs to the commissioner, but the decision regarding who replaces an injured starter is the coach's to make. 

It's the second consecutive All-Star berth for Lillard, who, in his third NBA season, has started every game for the Northwest Division-leading Trail Blazers this season. 

He's averaging a career-high 21.6 points while bombing a ridiculous 7.4 3-pointers per game. He's also chipping in 4.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists, while posting a career-best 21.2 PER and ranking eighth in the NBA in Win Shares. 

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