Raptors’ Lowry named All-Star starter for second consecutive year
Posted January 22, 2016 5:41 am.
Last Updated January 22, 2016 5:45 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
For the second consecutive year Kyle Lowry will start in the NBA All-Star Game.
The 10-year veteran is averaging career-highs in points (20.9 per game), rebounds (5.0 per game), threes (2.7), and 3PT% (38.3) and has started all 42 games this season for the Raptors, who currently sit second in the East.
Lowry will be joined by LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.
The West starters will be Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook.
Last season it took a late charge and incessant social media campaign for Lowry to secure his starting spot, awarded by fan voting, and history repeated itself. With 367,472 votes heading into this week, Lowry trailed Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving by more than 32,000 before making a surge.
17-time All-Star Kobe Bryant led all players with 1.53 million votes heading into the final stretch, with reigning MVP Steph Curry second with 1.2 million.
With Lowry’s spot locked up, the next question becomes whether or not backcourt mate and Raptors co-captain DeMar DeRozan will be joining Lowry at the NBA’s annual showcase.
The All-Star Game takes place on Feb.14 in Toronto.
