Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 68th NBA All-Star Game, featuring Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis, will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States. NBA All-Star 2019 will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.
Russell has earned his first NBA All-Star selection and becomes the Nets’ first All-Star since the 2013-14 season (Joe Johnson). In his fourth season, the 6-5 guard is averaging career highs of 19.6 points and 6.4 assists to go with 3.8 rebounds and 1.17 steals in 52 games. He is shooting career highs of 43.8 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from three-point range and 80.8 percent from the free throw line. Russell has made a career-high 140 three-pointers, the third-highest total among Eastern Conference players.
In January, Russell averaged 23.8 points and 7.3 assists in 15 games as the Nets went 11-4 to finish the month with a 28-25 record. Russell was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 14 of the 2018-19 season (Jan. 14-20).
Oladipo will miss the 2019 NBA All-Star Game after sustaining a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee in a game against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 23. He was selected by NBA head coaches as an All-Star reserve for the second consecutive season.
According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Oladipo and Russell both play for Eastern Conference teams.
Team captains Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers will draft the NBA All-Star Game rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. The team rosters will be revealed on TNT in a special NBA All-Star Draft Show on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. ET.
Russell will be selected with the All-Star Game reserves in the second round of the NBA All-Star Draft. The starters will be drafted in the first round. Oladipo will be assigned to the same All-Star team that drafts Russell.
