The Western Conference roster is loaded heading into All-Star weekend, as they look for their third straight victory over the Eastern Conference. Last year the West claimed a 152-149 victory, behind game MVP Kevin Durant's 36 points.
NBA All-Star Game 2013 roster: Kevin Durant leads a loaded Western Conference roster
The NBA All-Star Game will be played Sunday night in Houston, and in it the Western Conference will be looking for their third win in a row over the Eastern Conference. The West roster will be led by a number of big names, including Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin
Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE
Here’s a list of who will be suiting up for the West in 2013
Starters:
After leading the Clippers to the third best mark in the Western Conference entering the All-Star break, Paul will now try to lead the West to their third straight victory over the East this weekend. Paul enters the game averaging 9.5 assists per game, which is second in the NBA.
With 27 points in last year’s West victory, Kobe Bryant became the all-time leading scorer in All-Star game history, passing the great Michael Jordan. Bryant enters the 2013 game as the NBA’s third leading scorer this season, an especially impressive feat considering he is now 34-years-old.
SF: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Speaking of impressive scorers, Durant enters the All-Star break as the NBA’s leading scorer, a statistic he has led the league in for each of the last three seasons. This is Durant’s fourth All-Star Game appearance.
PF: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
After scoring 22 points in last year’s All-Star Game, Blake Griffin was given his third All-Star nod in as many years in 2013. One of the stars of the “Lob City” Clippers, Griffin is averaging over 18 points and just under nine rebounds a game this season.
C: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers
Rounding out the West’s starting five is the NBA’s leading rebounder, Dwight Howard, who enters this game ripping down just under 12 boards per game. This will be seventh All-Star Game appearance, but first as a member of the Western Conference after coming to Los Angeles in an off-season trade with Orlando.
Reserves:
The Spurs enter the All-Star break with the Western Conference’s best record, and its thanks in large part to the play of the 30-year-old Parker. Quietly, Parker is having a masterful season for San Antonio, averaging over 20 points and seven assists a game.
PG: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s been another stellar season for Westbrook, who- in combination with Durant- has helped Oklahoma City out to the second best record in the West. This will be Westbrook’s third All-Star appearance, as the Thunder point guard enters this game averaging over 22 points and eight assists in 2013.
After playing in the shadow of Westbrook and Durant for the past couple seasons, Harden is now finally a star in Houston, and making his first All-Star Game appearance because of it. The fourth-year player out of Arizona State is averaging 26.1 points per game, which is the fourth highest total in the NBA entering the break
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trailblazers
While plenty of players get more publicity than Aldridge, few put up the consistent numbers the Trailblazers star forward does. On the season, Aldridge is averaging just under 20.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
PF: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The elder statesman of the Western Conference All-Star roster, Duncan is making his 14th All-Star Game appearance at the age of 36. Still, despite his advanced age, Duncan is nearly averaging a double-double in 2013, with 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds entering the break.
Another player flying under the radar entering this year’s game is the Warriors’ David Lee who will be making his second career All-Star appearance in 2013. Lee’s 19 point and 10.8 rebound per game averages are a big reason the Warriors are a surprising 30-22 entering the All-Star break.
The final member of the 2013 Western Conference roster is Zach Randolph, who will be making just his second All-Star Game appearance this season, and first since 2010. Randolph is the NBA’s second-leading rebounder at 11.5 per game.
The NBA All-Star Game will be played in Houston this Sunday, Feb. 17, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
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