Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s news conference started a few minutes later than normal Thursday evening, as he, like the rest of the organization, awaited word on whether Denver would have any other All-Stars in Salt Lake City.
The Nuggets came away disappointed, as neither Aaron Gordon nor Jamal Murray was named an All-Star reserve. The seven West reserves were Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard, Domantas Sabonis, Lauri Markkanen, Paul George, and Jaren Jackson Jr. It was Jackson’s inclusion that was the most surprising.
Malone said he was stunned that Gordon wasn’t included, adding it was a “travesty,” that the coaches opted not to vote for Denver’s forward.
The second-place Grizzlies landed two All-Stars, while the Nuggets, who occupied the No. 1 seed heading into Thursday night’s matchup vs. Golden State, only had Nikola Jokic in the game.
Malone tried to deflect from the disappointment everyone within Denver’s locker room felt.
“Our goals are much higher than the individual accolades,” he said.
Gordon’s last chance to make his first All-Star Game could come down to Zion Williamson’s availability. Named a starter last week, if Williamson can’t play, the replacement would likely be chosen by commissioner Adam Silver.
Nuggets rookie Christian Braun hadn’t been around for long, but he knew the party line.
As the best team in the conference, Braun said the Nuggets were deserving of numerous All-Star nods in this month’s exhibition in Salt Lake City.
“We need multiple,” Braun said after Thursday’s shootaround. “Obviously, we’re the best team in the (West) right now. … Guys like Aaron, guys like Jamal, they deserve recognition for the things they’re doing night in and night out.”
Jokic had already been named an All-Star starter. By virtue of their 35-16 record, Denver’s coaching staff will be traveling to Utah as well and serving as the coaching staff for Team LeBron. That accolade was announced Wednesday night.
But Braun and fellow newcomer Bruce Brown both promoted the candidacies of Murray and Gordon ahead of Thursday’s announcement for the reserves.
“Jamal’s playing at an All-Star level, and Aaron’s playing at an All-Star level,” Brown said.
For the last two months, Murray’s averaged 20.5 points on 40% 3-point shooting, with 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds. While less gaudy, nearly all of Gordon’s year has been efficient. In 46 games, Gordon’s averaged 16.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds, while assuming the top defensive assignments on a nightly basis. Gordon’s also shooting a career-high 58% from the field.
Murray said he knows he had a slow start to his season coming off his ACL return but wouldn’t let his exclusion in the All-Star Game make or break his budding confidence.
“We’re a team that deserves a lot of guys,” Braun said. “Whether we get them or we don’t, we’re going to continue to do what we do.”
As reserve wing Davon Reed walked off the court Thursday, he grabbed a reporter and whispered that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who’s shooting 46% from 3-point range this year, deserved to be in the 3-point contest as well.
Regardless of Thursday night’s results, there’s a good chance the Nuggets will be well-represented in Salt Lake City.
Malone, Jokic honored: A day after earning one of the two head coaching spots in the All-Star Game, Malone received yet another honor Thursday when he was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for the second time in his career.
Meanwhile, in a far more common occurrence, Jokic was named Western Conference Player of the Month for the first time this season and fifth time in his career after averaging 24.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and11.3 assists on 67.7% shooting in 12 games during January. No other player in Nuggets history has been named player of the month more.
Malone led the Nuggets to a 12-4 record last month and is now the third Nuggets head coach to win the award multiple times, joining George Karl and Doug Moe.
Your turn, LeBron and Giannis
With the announcement of the All-Star reserves Thursday, the participants are now set for the All-Star Game on Feb. 19 in Salt Lake City. Here’s a look at the pool of players, barring injury, who will be selected by All-Star captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo prior to the game:
Eastern Conference
Starters
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
F Kevin Durant, Brooklyn
G Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn
G Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland
F Jayson Tatum, Boston
Reserves
C Bam Adebayo, Miami
G Jaylen Brown, Boston
G DeMar DeRozan, Chicago
C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
G Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana
G Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee
F Julius Randle, New York
Western Conference
Starters
G Stephen Curry, Golden State
G Luka Doncic, Dallas
F LeBron James, L.A. Lakers
C Nikola Jokic, Denver
F Zion Williamson, New Orleans
Reserves
G Paul George, L.A. Clippers
G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City
F Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis
G Damian Lillard, Portland
F Lauri Markkanen, Utah
G Ja Morant, Memphis
C Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento
