Russell Westbrook was snubbed from a spot among those voted in as starters for the 2018 All-Star game, but the reigning NBA MVP isn't sweating it. When asked whether he is at all upset about having to play second fiddle to the likes of James Harden, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Steph Curry in the Western Conference, Westbrook's answer was: "Not at all."
"All-Star doesn't do anything, doesn't change anything, doesn't change who you are as a player; what you bring to the game. It's just who people think should make it," Westbrook told ESPN on Friday, January 19. "That doesn't change anything for me... never will. That's not something I play for. I play to win championships, and that's it," he said.
For this year's 67th All-Star Weekend contest, the slate of players selected to start in the West will likely wind up mixed together with some Eastern Conference players and playing opposite one another, as the league has changed its East vs. West format to allow a captain from each conference to select whomever they'd like from the range of players across the entire league, to start on their team.
As a result of the 50 percent fan vote, the 25 percent media vote, and the 25 percent player vote, those selected from the West will be bunched together with Lebron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, and DeMar DeRozan. The top vote-getters Lebron and Steph will get the honors of splitting the sides up.
Westbrook will not be available for the selection, despite averaging 9.9 assists and 9.7 rebounds to go along with 24.8 points per game for the 25-20 Oklahoma City Thunder.
Source: blacksportsonline.com
