As suspected by many leading up to this weekend’s festivities, Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh will start in the All-Star game in place of injured point guard Rajon Rondo.
Miami Heat head coach Eric Spolestra was given the final decision and chose one of his players over other point guards in Cleveland’ s Kyrie Irving and Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday. Bosh will start alongside teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as well as Boston’s Kevin Garnett and New York’s Carmelo Anthony.
On the season, Bosh is averaging 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 55.5 percent from the field and 81.5 percent from the free throw line. Irving was widely considered to be the logical option to start the game due to his status as a player as well as his position, but many have speculated that the Heat head coach will opt to limit the time the Cavs guard spends with former Cavalier small forward LeBron James. There is also an element of loyalty and keeping his own players happy; Spoelstra’s decision satisfies both.
[Related: Cavaliers limp into All-Star break where Kyrie Irving won’t have much of one]
