Williamson leads All-Star reserves

BASKETBALL

Williamson leads All-Star reserves

New Orleans forward Zion Williamson now can be called an NBA All-Star, and only three others in the game's 70-year history have gotten there at a younger age.

Williamson is one of four first-time All-Stars, all revealed Tuesday night when the league announced the reserves for the March 7 game in Atlanta. Joining him as fellow All-Star rookies: Boston's Jaylen Brown, New York's Julius Randle and Chicago's Zach LaVine.

Phoenix's Chris Paul is an All-Star for the 11th time, and Brooklyn's James Harden is one for the ninth consecutive year. The rest of the reserves include Philadelphia's Ben Simmons, Boston's Jayson Tatum and Orlando's Nikola Vucevic from the Eastern Conference, along with the Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George, Utah teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Portland's Damian Lillard from the Western Conference.

Team captains LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets will draft their teams next week, with the rosters to be unveiled March 4. Starters, revealed last week, were chosen through a combination of voting by fans, NBA players and a media panel.

Reserves were chosen through voting by the league's head coaches.

"You do the best that you can," Orlando Coach Steve Clifford said. "It's not easy. ... Every year, it is hard, and when you look at this year in the East there were a number of guys who are worthy of making it. So, it's difficult every year."

Atlanta's Trae Young, an All-Star last season, is not one this year despite averaging 26.9 points entering Tuesday, the most among anyone not selected. Miami forwards Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler didn't make the cut, nor did Phoenix's Devin Booker.

Utah's Mike Conley -- someone the NBA-leading Jazz desperately wanted to see get there for what would have been the first time -- also missed out on the nod.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and guard Facundo Campazzo, center, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, left, gets a pat on the head from guard James Harden during a timeout in the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine dunks against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. The Bulls won 105-102. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Julius Randle, center, of the New York Knicks looks to pass as Jarred Vanderbilt, left, and Anthony Edwards, right, of the Minnesota Timberwolves defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in New York. (Sarah Stier/Pool Photo via AP)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) lays the ball up in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket past New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart to score the tying points in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) keeps the ball away from Detroit Pistons center Mason Plumlee in the first half during an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Joe Skipper)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, talks with Anthony Davis during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, right, dunks on Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) in the second half during an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)