Paul George is no longer snubbed from the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward will be DeMarcus Cousins' replacement on Team LeBron following his unfortunate season-ending Achilles injury this past Friday.
The announcement was made by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver yesterday. With this selection, George will now play in his third-straight All-Star Game, the fifth of his career.Â
The decision to pick George as the replacement comes as no surprise; many people were shocked he was left off of the team in the first place. Teammate and fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook even voiced his disbelief at George not making the original team earlier in the week by saying it was "outrageous." He even threw some lowkey shade at the Warriors and Damian Lillard in the process.Â
These comments from Westbrook seemed to have an effect on George. Following the support from his fellow Thunder teammate, George said it was making his looming free agency decision coming up this off season even "easier." Many have speculated the Los Angeles Lakers as a likely landing spot for him.
Despite the inclusion, PG-13 noted that he wished it was under better circumstances and not replacing an injured Cousins.. However, George said he is still "grateful" to be selected to the team.
Following the news, team captain LeBron James congratulated George on his All-Star selection.
I do get to pick who starts on my #TeamLeBron team since I had an injury on my team correct?!?! By the @Yg_Trece happy to have u bro!!
