Chris Paul and David West were picked for their first NBA All-Star game on Thursday, giving the hometown Hornets a pair of players for the event New Orleans will host next month.
The Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards also had multiple players chosen as reserves for the Feb. 17 game. The Boston Celtics will send only two of its Big Three to the Big Easy. Paul Pierce was voted in by Eastern Conference head coaches to join starter Kevin Garnett, but Ray Allen fell short.
The Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton are headed back for the third straight year. The Suns will be represented by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.
Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler were also recognized for their strong play, which has kept the Wizards in the middle of the playoff race despite the absence of injured guard Gilbert Arenas.
The Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh and Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson were the other players picked for the East, which will be coached by Boston's Doc Rivers. Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, the reigning NBA MVP, Utah Jazz's Carlos Boozer and Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy were selected from the West.
Paul, Nash and Roy emerged from a crowded group of West guards to beat out the likes of Golden State's Baron Davis, Utah point guard Deron Williams, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili from the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.
Also missing out during the worst season of his career was Shaquille O'Neal, ending his streak of 14 consecutive All-Star selections. That tied the record held by Jerry West and Karl Malone.
Paul, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and West have helped the Hornets to a 32-13 record.
Garnett, LeBron James, Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, New Jersey Nets' Jason Kidd and Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade were voted by fans to start for the East. The West starters are Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, San Antonio forward Tim Duncan and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (
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