:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27747885/20131117_kkt_sv7_742.0.jpg)
The Eastern Conference's head coaches did not select Orlando Magic swingman Arron Afflalo to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, as his name wasn't among the seven reserves announced Thursday in a special edition of TNT's NBA Tip-Off. Afflalo had been aiming to become the first Magic All-Star reserve since 2009, when the East's coaches voted Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis to the squad.
Afflalo, 28, is posting per-game averages of 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from three-point range. Despite those great numbers, the East's coaches overlooked him, perhaps due to Orlando's dismal record: at 12-35, the Magic stand second-to-last in the league.
Instead of Afflalo, the East's coaches chose DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets to fill the wing positions. The East's other reserves are Miami Heat center Chris Bosh, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap, Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, and Washington Wizards point guard John Wall.
In the days leading up to Thursday's announcement, several national NBA writers supported Afflalo's All-Star candidacy, so he was not an unpopular candidate.
Though Afflalo won't be there, the Magic will still have representation at All-Star Weekend 2014. On Wednesday, the league announced that rookie guard Victor Oladipo will take part in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, February 14th.
The 2014 NBA All-Star Game tips off at 8 PM Eastern on February 16th. TNT will televise the game live from New Orleans.
