The NBA All-Star Game is just a few weeks away in Denver. The date is Feb. 20 to be exact. Several weeks ago, then-ESPN analyst George Karl (now the head coach of the Denver Nuggets) had a great new idea about the game’s format.
Karl suggested that the NBA copy the National Hockey League format of the United States stars against the International stars. With the continued emergence of the international players in the league and the recent results of the 2004 Olympics, it might not be a bad idea.
With that in mind, here would be my rosters for an International NBA All-Star Game.
United States All-Stars
Starters
Tim Duncan 7’0″ (F) San Antonio Spurs
Kevin Garnett 6’11” (F) Minnesota Timberwolves
Shaquille O’Neal 7’1″ (C)Miami Heat
LeBron James 6’8″ (G) Cleveland Cavaliers
Allen Iverson 6’1″ (G) Philadelphia 76ers
Reserves
Jermaine O’Neal 7’1″ (F) Indiana Pacers
Amare Stoudemire 6’10” (F) Phoenix Suns
Tracy McGrady 6’8″ (G) Houston Rockets
Ray Allen 6’5″ (G) Seattle Supersonics
Kobe Bryant 6’7″ (G) Los Angeles Lakers (Inj.)
Dwayne Wade 6’4″ (G) Miami Heat
Grant Hill 6’8″ (G) Orlando Magic
International All-Stars
Starters
Dirk Nowitzki 7’0″ (F) Dallas Mavericks (Germany)
Peja Stoyakovic 6’9″ (F) Sacramento Kings (Serbia-Mont.)
Yao Ming 7’5″ (C) Houston Rockets (China)
Manu Ginobili 6’6″ (G) San Antonio Spurs (Argentina)
Steve Nash 6’2″ (G) Phoenix Suns (Canada)
Reserves
Pao Gasol 7’0″ (F) Memphis Grizzlies (Spain)
Tony Parker 6’2″ (G) San Antonio Spurs (France)
Ardrei Kirilenko 6’9″ (F) Utah Jazz (Russia)
Zydrunas Ilgauskus 7’3″ (C) Cleveland Cavaliers (Lithuania)
Vladamir Radmanovic 6’10” (F) Seattle Supersonics (Serbia-Mont.)
Jamaal Magloire 6’10” (C) New Orleans Hornets (Canada)
Marko Jaric 6’7″ (G) L.A. Clippers (Serbia-Mont.)
NBA nuggets
On Feb. 17, I’ll have my mid-season NBA All-Star selections. Here are a few interesting items from recent NBA action:
* On Jan. 19, LeBron James became the youngest player in history to achieve a triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a victory at Portlant.
* On Jan. 14, Damon Stoudamire of Portland scored a career high 54 points in a loss to New Orleans. Stoudamire hit 20 of 32 shots from the field, including eight of 16 from 3-point range.
* On Jan. 19, Earl Boykins scored 15 points in overtime in Denver’s 116-110 victory at Seattle. The 5’5″ Boykins set a NBA record for most points in an overtime period.
* Nobody in the Atlantic Division has a winning record at the present time. Boston entered the week in first place with a 21-23 record.
* The Los Angeles Lakers won four of their first five games without Kobe Bryant in the lineup after he suffered an ankle injury.
* Rookie power forward Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats achieved a “double-double” in 20 consecutive games.
* The Memphis Grizzlies are 13-5 since Mike Fratello took over as head coach for his retired mentor Hubie Brown.
