MEMPHIS, Tenn–The NBA announced today that Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol has been voted by the fans to the Western Conference starting lineup for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. Gasol is the first player ever to represent the Grizzlies as a starter in the All-Star Game.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected as a starter for the All-Star Game,” Gasol said. “Knowing that I will be facing my brother Pau for the opening tip, it will be a true accomplishment for our family and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my career. It holds special meaning to be voted in by the fans, and I look forward to representing my teammates, the organization, the City of Memphis and entire Mid-South community and Grizzlies fans across the world.”
Gasol (7-1, 255) has led Memphis to a 30-12 record (.714) through 42 games this season, helping guide the Grizzlies to the best start in franchise history. He paces the team in scoring with a career-high 19.3 points on .501 shooting and has averaged 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.69 blocks in 34.8 minutes. One of the NBA’s most versatile players, Gasol is the only player this season to date to total at least 700 points (812), 300 rebounds (346), 150 assists (157) and 50 blocks (71).
“The Grizzlies organization is thrilled and proud that Marc Gasol has been voted as a starter to the West team for the All-Star Game by fans worldwide,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said.“This honor confirms what we in Memphis have known for quite some time– that Marc is one of the elite players in the game. This is a great honor not just for Marc but for our team, the City of Memphis and our global legion of fans.”
This marks Gasol’s second All-Star selection after being nominated by the coaches as a reserve in 2012. The Grizzlies now have been represented in the NBA All-Star Game a total of five times by three different players (Marc Gasol –2012, 2015; Zach Randolph – 2010, 2013; and Pau Gasol –2006).
Gasol finished (795,121 votes) will be joined in the West frontcourt by New Orleans Pelicans forwardAnthony Davis (1,369,911) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (700,615). The West backcourt consists of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (1,513,324) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (1,152,402).
The Eastern Conference All-Star starting lineup consists of Washington Wizards guard John Wall (886,368) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (805,290) in the backcourt and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (1,470,483), Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (974,177) and New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (647,005) in the frontcourt.
Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol are slated to become the first brothers to both start in an NBA All-Star Game and the second pair of brothers to ever appear in the same All-Star Game, joining the Phoenix Suns’ Dick Van Arsdale (West) and the Cincinnati Royals’ Tom Van Arsdale (East) in 1970 and 1971.
The 64th NBA All-Star Game will tip off Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will be seen by fans in 215 countries and territories and will be heard in 47 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for the 13th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 30th year of NBA All-Star coverage.
NBA All-Star Balloting 2015 presented by Sprint gave fans around the world the opportunity to vote for their favorite players to start in the All-Star Game. For the first time ever, the official NBA All-Star Ballot presented by Sprint included all current NBA players. As part of the NBA’s all-digital program, fans voted on NBA.com; through social media networks, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo and Tencent Microblog; via SMS text; and with the NBA Game Time and the NBA Game Time from Sprint applications.
The NBA’s 30 head coaches will select the reserves for the 2015 All-Star Game. They must vote for seven players within their conference: two guards, three frontcourt players and two players regardless of position. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Reserves will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 29, on TNT. If a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game after the coaches choose the reserves, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement.
The East and West All-Star coaches and coaching staffs are determined by the best record in the conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 1. By virtue of their teams’ victories on Wednesday, the Atlanta Hawks’ Mike Budenholzer and his staff will coach the East and Golden State’s Steve Kerr and his staff will lead the West. The Indiana Pacers’ Frank Vogel and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Scott Brooks were not eligible because they coached in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.
NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. Along with the All-Star Game, TNT will also air the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 13, and State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 14. The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge and State Farm All-Star Saturday night will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Other events at Barclays Center include the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire and the NBA Development League Dream Factory presented by Boost Mobile on Sunday, Feb. 15, airing on NBA TV. Madison Square Garden will host Friday night’s ESPN-televised Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
–grizzlies.com–