Photo: Keith Allison/Flickr/Creative Commons
Dirk Nowitzki will be replacing injured Pelicans star Anthony Davis at this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend. Word is that Nowitzki is missing some expected downtime, but he’s happy to be chosen to attend the festivities.
“It’s always an honor to represent the Mavericks at the All Star Game,” said the player in a statement from the team. “This year it threw a little bit of a wrench into my plans, but I am very excited. Even though it was unexpected I am looking forward to being a part of the festivities in New York.”
Nowitzki will be playing for the Western Conference team at New York City’s Madison Square Garden as Davis recovers from a shoulder sprain he suffered during a recent game against Chicago.
“After careful thought and consideration, I’ve decided I will not be participating in this year’s NBA All-Star competitions,” Davis said in a release. “I want to thank the fans for voting me into the All-Star game and I am sorry I will not be able to play.” Davis received 1,369,911 fan votes during the All-Star ballot, the third-most in the league.
In January, Nowitzki scored his way into seventh on the league’s all-time scoring list. This will be the 36-year-old German native’s 13th All-Star appearance.
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