Celtic Jayson Tatum elevated to All-Star starter after Durant to miss game

The Boston Celtics now have themselves a 2021 NBA All-Star starter on their roster — They didn’t make a blockbuster trade to make it happen, however.

Recently-designated All-Star reserve forward Jayson Tatum found himself elevated by the league to starter status after forward Kevin Durant pulled out of the Atlanta-hosted friendly after determining the Brooklyn Nets star won’t recover from a hamstring injury in time to play in the annual star-studded event. Taking Durant’s place in the All-Star game will be Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis in what will be his second All-Star game, the first coming last season in 2020.

If not for their positional designations, there might have been an argument to give the starter status to first-time All-Star and Boston teammate Jaylen Brown.

The Georgia native was elected to the All-Star game as a guard, however.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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