Anthony Davis withdraws from All-Star Game due to shoulder injury
The Western Conference All-Star team continues to get decimated by injuries.
Citing a right shoulder sprain that's sidelined him for the last two games, Anthony Davis has withdrawn from Sunday's NBA All-Star Game. He'll join Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin on the sideline for the event, and Kevin Durant could be joining that group as well.
Davis released the following statement through the New Orleans Pelicans' Twitter account on Wednesday:
After careful thought and consideration, I've decided I will not be participating in this year's NBA All-Star competitions. I want to thank the fans for voting me into the All-Star Game and I am sorry I will not be able to play.
While I'm disappointed that I won't be able to compete this weekend, I'm still very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star events in New York and celebrate our game with some of the NBA's greatest figures.
More than anything, I am anxious to get healthy and back on the court with my teammates after the All-Star break.
It's a tough year for All-Stars and further evidence a week-long break is necessary in the middle of a grueling 82-game schedule. In the East, Dwyane Wade will miss the game, Jimmy Butler is questionable and Carmelo Anthony still isn't certain to suit up on his home court, meaning as many as seven All-Stars could be sitting out.
It's an unfortunate turn for Davis, who has been one of a handful of the league's MVP candidates through the unofficial first half. In 46 games, Davis is averaging 24.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals while leading the league with 2.7 blocks and a 31.7 PER, and the Pelicans had been 13.6 points per-100 possessions worse without him. And that was before they got rolled by the Indiana Pacers without Davis on Wednesday.
With the Pelicans sitting in 10th in the West and a game-and-a-half out of a playoff spot, ensuring Davis is fully healthy coming out of the break is understandably more important than an All-Star appearance.
Dirk Nowitzki was named Davis' replacement later on Wednesday night.