Kyrie Irving to start for Eastern Conference in All-Star Game

We knew it was likely coming, but it doesn’t make it any less rare for a Cleveland Cavalier. Kyrie Irving joins Shawn Kemp and LeBron James as the third Cavalier to start in a NBA All-Star game, earning the official nod this evening. Irving joins LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony in the Eastern Conference starting lineup. The West starters are Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love. The format was changed this year to eliminate the center position in voting, instead opting for two backcourt and three frontcourt players of any configuration.

Irving will make his second All-Star appearance after earning honors in his second year last season. In Houston, he made a weekend of it, dazzling on Team Shaq in the Rising Stars game while breaking Brandon Knight’s ankles, winning the three-point shootout on Saturday night, and then playing 25 minutes on Sunday night and scoring 15 points and handing out 4 assists. This year’s game will be on Sunday, February 16th in New Orleans.

This season, Irving is averaging 21.7 points and 6.1 assists on .430/.373/.833 shooting to go with a 20.0 PER and .525 true shooting percentage. However, his shooting numbers are down, his defense has remained sketchy as opposing point guards have lit him up, and the team is still three games out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a 15-27 record.

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(Image via Scott Sargent/WFNY)