Luka Dončić will most certainly be an All-Star selection for the third year in a row.
But it will not be as a starter.
The fans, media members and players have spoken and Dončić was outvoted by Memphis’ Ja Morant, who will be starting in an All-Star Game for the first time when this year’s event is played at Cleveland on Feb.20. Golden State’s Steph Curry was the leading vote-getter for the Western Conference backcourt positions.
Fear not, Mavericks’ fans. It’s a virtual certainty that the Mavericks’ 6-7 superstar point guard will be voted in as a West reserve.
After missing considerable time in November and December, which surely contributed to him not being voted as a starter, Dončić has been a beast since the calendar turned to 2022.
Dončić has six triple-doubles this season, four of them in the past 20 days as he has put on a statistical push.
That blitz has pushed his season averages to 25.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game.
Since returning from a leg injury and COVID-19 protocols on Jan. 2, Dončić has averaged 24.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists.
Along with Morant and Curry, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins complete the West starters.
In the East, Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Atlanta’s Trae Young and Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan are the starters.
The Mavericks’ early season problems in the win-loss column probably didn’t help Dončić in the fan/media/player balloting. They were two games below .500 on Dec. 30 before going 12-3 since then.
The fan voting counted for 50 percent in determining the starters, with the players and media accounting for 25 percent each.
The coaches choose the reserves, which will be announced on Feb. 3.
Twitter: @ESefko
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