Trae Young and Kyrie Irving Added to NBA All-Star Game \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Trae Young and Kyrie Irving have been named as injury replacements for the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Young will step in for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is sidelined with a calf injury, while Irving replaces Anthony Davis, who is out with a groin injury. The four-time All-Star Young joins Team Chuck, while nine-time All-Star Irving joins Team Shaq for Sunday’s event in San Francisco.
Quick Looks
- Trae Young Joins All-Star Game: Named as an injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Kyrie Irving Also Added: Steps in for Anthony Davis, who is out with a groin injury.
- Young’s Career Milestone: Becomes a four-time All-Star, leading the league in assists per game.
- Irving’s All-Star Streak Continues: Now a nine-time selection, previously won All-Star MVP in 2014.
- Young Joins Team Chuck: Plays alongside Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama.
- Irving Joins Team Shaq: Teams up with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
- All-Star Weekend Event: The mini-tournament format tips off Sunday in San Francisco.
Deep Look
The NBA All-Star Game roster has undergone significant changes after two major injuries, with Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving being named as replacements.
Commissioner Adam Silver selected Young to replace Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is out with a calf injury. Later in the day, Irving was chosen to step in for his Mavericks teammate Anthony Davis, who suffered a groin injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks.
Both Young and Irving are no strangers to the All-Star stage. Young now becomes a four-time All-Star, while Irving earns his ninth selection. Their inclusion adds more intrigue to an already stacked lineup, as the league debuts its new mini-tournament format on Sunday in San Francisco.
Trae Young’s Journey from Snub to All-Star Selection
Few players have been as vocal about their All-Star snubs as Trae Young, who leads the NBA in assists per game this season. Despite averaging 11.4 assists per game—well ahead of Nikola Jokic’s 10.3—he was not selected as a starter or reserve.
His frustration was evident on social media, where he posted,
“It’s getting ‘Traed’ at this point,” coining a term to describe repeated All-Star exclusions.
Young’s impressive stats and consistent impact on the Hawks’ offense made him a prime candidate for an injury replacement. His playmaking ability has been on full display all season, as he continues to be one of the league’s most dynamic scorers and facilitators.
This marks the second consecutive year Young has been named an injury replacement, as he was also added to last year’s roster under similar circumstances.
Young Joins Team Chuck with International Stars
Young will play for Team Chuck, the eight-man squad drafted last week by TNT analyst Charles Barkley. He joins a roster that features some of the NBA’s most dominant international players, including:
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia, Denver Nuggets)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada, Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Victor Wembanyama (France, San Antonio Spurs)
- Pascal Siakam (Cameroon, Indiana Pacers)
- Alperen Sengun (Turkey, Houston Rockets)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican heritage, New York Knicks)
- Donovan Mitchell (Panamanian heritage, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Young will likely be the team’s primary playmaker, setting up elite scorers like Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Wembanyama.
Kyrie Irving’s All-Star Comeback
Kyrie Irving, a nine-time All-Star, continues to solidify his place among the league’s best guards. The Mavericks star was named an injury replacement for Anthony Davis, who suffered a groin injury in his Dallas debut on Saturday.
Irving, who won All-Star MVP in 2014, remains one of the league’s most skilled ball handlers and elite scorers. His selection ensures that the Mavericks still have All-Star representation, despite Davis’ absence.
Irving Joins Team Shaq with NBA Superstars
Irving was assigned to Team Shaq, where he will play alongside some of the NBA’s biggest names, including:
- LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
- Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
- Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)
- James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers)
This marks a reunion of sorts, as Irving and LeBron James were teammates during their Cleveland Cavaliers championship run in 2016. His presence adds even more firepower to an already stacked Team Shaq roster.
Updated NBA All-Star Rosters
With Young and Irving added, the three-team mini-tournament format now features:
Team Chuck (Drafted by Charles Barkley)
- Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
- Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
- Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)
- Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Team Shaq (Drafted by Shaquille O’Neal)
- Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks)
- LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
- Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
- Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)
- James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers)
Team Kenny (Drafted by Kenny Smith)
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
- Tyler Herro (Miami Heat)
The NBA All-Star Game’s New Format
For the first time, the NBA All-Star Game will deviate from the traditional East vs. West format and instead feature a mini-tournament with three games.
- Each of the three teams will compete against each other, with the winning team being crowned champion.
- The format aims to increase competitiveness, ensuring players take the game seriously.
- It will showcase elite talent in new matchups, rather than the standard conference-based selections.
What’s Next?
The NBA All-Star Weekend is set to take place Sunday in San Francisco, where Young and Irving will officially join their respective squads.
- Young’s playmaking will be crucial for Team Chuck, feeding elite international scorers.
- Irving will provide veteran leadership for Team Shaq, teaming up with LeBron, Curry, and Durant.
- Fans will get a first look at the new mini-tournament format, which could become the standard for future All-Star Games.
While neither Young nor Irving was initially selected, their presence will undoubtedly add excitement to an already star-studded All-Star Game.
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