Doc Rivers reacts in shock to Sixers’ James Harden not being an All-Star
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On Thursday night, the NBA announced the 2023 All-Star reserves for both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers, who have won 21 of their last 26 games entering Friday’s road contest with the San Antonio Spurs, learned that Joel Embiid would be an All-Star for the 6th time in his career.
That was not a surprise. The surprise was that James Harden was not named to the All-Star team despite taking a lesser role and averaging 21.4 points and 11.0 assists along with 6.4 rebounds per game. He has done it all out on the floor in order to help Philadelphia succeed.
Coach Doc Rivers gave his reaction to The Philadelphia Inquirer after the news:
“I don’t get involved in that stuff a lot,” Rivers told The Inquirer following the 76ers’ shootaround in San Antonio, a setting where coaches typically do not speak to the media. ” … I didn’t even think it would be a question [that Harden would be selected]. And for him not to be on the All-Star team when, at the time that voting went in, we were the second seed — Boston has two, Milwaukee has two, we have one.
“I think your record should matter, I think James Harden’s numbers should matter and I do think a history of his work should matter. This is maybe something that we should consider having coaches votes’ public. … This never should have happened.”
Harden should definitely be an All-Star. He has been terrific out on the floor and Philadelphia will be looking to build off his strong play and continue to prepare for what matters most: the playoffs.
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Joel Embiid, NBA Twitter react to Sixers star James Harden's All-Star snub
