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NBA News: Trae Young, Scottie Barnes Are All-Star Replacements

Jan 14, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) tries to defend during the second quarter at the Scotiabank Arena against the Toronto Raptors. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Breaking news in the basketball world–Trae Young and Scottie Barnes have been named replacements for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Young and Barnes will replace Joel Embiid and Julius Randle, who will both miss the game due to injury. Both players will represent the Eastern Conference All-Stars.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, February 18 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

NBA News: Trae Young, Scottie Barnes Are All-Star Replacements

Trae Young

With this news of being one of the 2024 Eastern Conference replacements, Young has now been selected for his third career NBA All-Star Game. In 2020 and 2022, Young played as an All-Star Game starter.

Young is averaging 27.3 points and 10.9 assists per game this season for the 22-28 Atlanta Hawks. Despite the lack of his team’s success, many believed Young deserved an All-Star spot anyway. Statistically speaking, Young matches up with the rest of the All-Stars from each conference.

Based on points per game, Young is the eighth-best scorer in the NBA so far this season. Young’s 27.3 PPG ranks higher than other All-Starslike Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brunson, and Nikola Jokic to name a few. Additionally, Young’s 10.9 APG is second-highest in the league, only behind All-Star starter, Tyrese Haliburton.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James acknowledged on X that he believes Young is an All-Star this season:

AGREED!!! I’m not quite understanding this! Cause it can’t be about Ws/Ls cause cats have definitely gotten in with wayyy nastier records in the past. He be cooking EVERY NIGHT! Stop it! He’s an All-⭐️ for sure. Something is REAL 🐠-E. 🤔

Scottie Barnes

The 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year is now an All-Star for the first time in his career. Barnes is also the fourth first-time All-Star this season alongside Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, and Paolo Banchero.

Barnes is averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. Additionally. Barnes is averaging 1.5 blocks per game and is shooting 36.5% from the three-point line. All of these numbers are career bests for the Florida State alum so far.

A few weeks ago, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic talked about Barnes and a potential All-Star selection for him this season, per Raptors beat reporter Josh Lewenberg:

I asked Darko Rajakovic if he thinks Scottie Barnes has shown enough this season to earn coaches’ vote for all-star, despite team record: “I definitely think he’s done enough to prove he’s an all-star. I think what he does night in night out on both ends puts him in the category with those guys”

Additionally, recently acquired guard Immanuel Quickley spoke about his fit next to Barnes:

“The type of talent he is makes it a lot easier for players like me to thrive on both sides of the ball… Playing with somebody that is 6-10, can pass, dribble, shoot, defend, that makes the game really easy.”

In his third season, Barnes will be representing the Eastern Conference in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

Elie Deglaoui

Elie Deglaoui

Elie is a sports journalist who specializes in covering NBA News and Rumors and the Boston Celtics. He is also the site expert for FanSided's 8Points9Seconds site and has previously written for GiveMeSport's NBA department.

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