February 3, 200422 yr By Chris Sheridan The Associated Press February 3, 2004, 3:42 PM CST LeBron James missed the cut Tuesday in voting for All-Star reserves, finishing behind Eastern Conference guards Paul Pierce, Michael Redd, Baron Davis and Jason Kidd. "Being selected to the All-Star team, it wouldn't be nothing new to me," James said Tuesday before the 14 reserves were announced. "I've been on All-Star teams my whole life. That's just how I play the game of basketball." "I'm just thankful for the team that I'm on," said Artest, who came to the Pacers midway through the 2001-02 season in a trade with the Bulls. "Without them, I probably wouldn't have made it. We're playing really good right now." James is averaging 20.8 points, 5.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds for the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose surge of six victories in eight games has moved them into contention for a playoff spot in the East. The 19-year-old rookie is 13th in the NBA in scoring and 12th in assists, averaging 24.1 points since Cleveland traded Ricky Davis to Boston in mid-December. James, Pierce, Allen and McGrady are the only players averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Coaches had to choose a center, two forwards, two guards and two others regardless of position. They could not vote for their own players. "I'd be very excited about it, but if it (doesn't) happen it's not the end of the world," James said after the Cavs' morning shootaround in Auburn Hills, Mich. There will be six All-Stars with international roots -- Kirilenko (Russia), Stojakovic (Serbia and Montenegro), Magloire (Canada) Nowitzki (Germany), Yao (China) and Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) -- which ties the record set a year ago. Cleveland coach Paul Silas said he had expected James to make the Eastern team. "He's put up the kind of numbers that warrants that. We're beginning to win and that's also a major factor," Silas said. Other players having strong seasons who did not make the All-Stars include Mike Bibby of Sacramento, Latrell Sprewell of Minnesota, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton of Detroit, Michael Finley of Dallas and Zach Randolph of Portland. Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson wouldn't single out James as being overlooked. Second-year forward Carlos Boozer, among the league leaders in rebounds, and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, an All-Star last season, were also bypassed. "We're disappointed," Paxson said. "Our feeling was that LeBron, Carlos and Z all had a good shot at making it. It's disappointing that we're not going to have anyone there, but for the players who are going, all of them with the exception of Paul Pierce are on teams with winning records." James will play in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night, alongside Carmelo Anthony of Denver, against a team of second-year players that includes Yao. Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
February 3, 200422 yr This is an absolutely stupid decision for the NBA. I for one would have watched the game just to James playing but now theres not a chance I check that out. Can someone tell me how the hell Jamaal Magloire is an All Star? Awful
February 3, 200422 yr James has the numbers to be an all star, but I'd of probably given Artest the nod over him. Too bad both were kept out. I don't watch enough basketball to say whether Redd deserved it, but I know when he has played the Bulls he's been fantastic. Since he shined with the Buckeyes, I always thought Redd would turn into a good player.
February 3, 200422 yr James will play in the Rookie Challenge on Friday night, alongside Carmelo Anthony of Denver, against a team of second-year players that includes Yao. Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press I'll probably be more interested in watching that than the actual all-star game.
February 3, 200422 yr I'll probably be more interested in watching that than the actual all-star game. That and the dunking contest, which James will be in.
February 3, 200422 yr LBJ Not an ALL Star Lyndon Baines Johnson -- Was an old white man. He didn't have any hops. ---------------- In all seriosness though, LBJ and Mello both go hosed... They both have put up incredible numbers, and helped guide thier respective teams to respectability.
February 4, 200422 yr "Being selected to the All-Star team, it wouldn't be nothing new to me" GO TO COLLEGE SON
February 4, 200422 yr Oh and BTW, I don't think I'm going to be watching much of the All-Star game anyways. Maybe the dunk contest and the rookie game
February 4, 200422 yr That and the dunking contest, which James will be in. I heard he said he wasn't...Has he changed his mind?
February 4, 200422 yr I heard he said he wasn't...Has he changed his mind? I didn't even know they said he wouldn't But I think it was said on that one basketball show after sportscenter.
February 4, 200422 yr Hmm...Yeah it was a while ago that he said he wouldn't, but we'll see...Hopefully he changes his mind.
February 4, 200422 yr Hmm...Yeah it was a while ago that he said he wouldn't, but we'll see...Hopefully he changes his mind. I believe he is participating.
February 4, 200422 yr This is an absolutely stupid decision for the NBA. I for one would have watched the game just to James playing but now theres not a chance I check that out. Can someone tell me how the hell Jamaal Magloire is an All Star? Awful They hav to hav 1 backup center. It was either him or Zydranus "I can't play D" Ilgauskas.
February 4, 200422 yr James has the numbers to be an all star, but I'd of probably given Artest the nod over him. Too bad both were kept out. I don't watch enough basketball to say whether Redd deserved it, but I know when he has played the Bulls he's been fantastic. Since he shined with the Buckeyes, I always thought Redd would turn into a good player. Actually, Ron Artest did make it. I'm just pissed that Zach Randolph was kept out. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/zach_randolp...x.html?nav=page Tell me these numbers aren't worth All-Star status. 21.5 points and 11 boards a game is not too bad.
February 4, 200422 yr Actually, Ron Artest did make it. I'm just pissed that Zach Randolph was kept out. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/zach_randolp...x.html?nav=page Tell me these numbers aren't worth All-Star status. 21.5 points and 11 boards a game is not too bad. He's definitely worthy....It's just that the West is so stacked. He has to be first on the waiting list.
February 4, 200422 yr "Being selected to the All-Star team, it wouldn't be nothing new to me" GO TO COLLEGE SON The Cadillac dealer could understand him just fine.
February 4, 200422 yr I am not sure what guard you would have left off of the East's roster for LeBron. Plus with the s***ty year that the Cavs are having, it makes it even less likely to get him on there.
February 10, 200422 yr Unless things change...Lebron won't be in the slam dunk contest.... Richardson to Defend Title in Slam Dunk Competition LOS ANGELES (Feb. 10) -- Many consider Jason Richardson to be the best dunker since Michael Jordan. At All-Star Weekend, Richardson will try to become the first three-time Slam Dunk champion. The high-flying guard of the Golden State Warriors headlines a field of four that will participate in the event on Saturday night at the Staples Center. Ricky Davis of the Boston Celtics and first-timers Chris Andersen of the Denver Nuggets and Fred Jones of the Indiana Pacers will try to wrest the title away from Richardson. Since the slam dunk contest's inception in 1984, no player has ever won the competition three times. Richardson became just the second player to repeat as champion last year, joining the legendary Jordan. He defended his title with a series of dunks that began with high ball tosses into the air. None was more spectacular than his final attempt, which displayed balance and defied gravity. From the right baseline, Richardson tossed the ball in the air and caught the bounce while going into his leap. With his back to the rim, he put the ball through his legs with his right hand and dunked over his head with his left hand. The judges -- all former Slam Dunk champions -- gave him a perfect score of 50, enough to inch him past Desmond Mason, 96-93. The win affirmed Richardson's status as the game's best open-court dunker. He also scored a record-tying 31 points in leading the Sophomores to victory in the Rookie Challenge. As a rookie in 2001-02, Richardson won the MVP of the Rookie Challenge and the Slam Dunk title, defeating Sacramento's Gerald Wallace.
February 11, 200422 yr I think Lebron needs to quit whining about it and start acting like he deserves a spot on the team. Lebron will be an all star for years to come, so whys he so worried about not making the team in his first season. big deal Bron Bron get over it.
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