With a handful of injuries to some of the NBA's stars heading into the league's All-Star break, three players have reportedly been added to the rosters for this weekend's exhibition.
The NBA is getting ready to celebrate it's 75th All-Star Game at the Clippers' Intuit Dome in Los Angeles which will host numerous events highlighted by Saturday's Shooting Stars competition, the 3-Point and Slam Dunk contests and Sunday's Domestic vs. International tournament.
Unfortunately, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry will be unable to suit up. But the league is now sending three new players to Southern California in their place.
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3 new players added to NBA All-Star rosters
According to longtime NBA correspondent Marc Stein, "The Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Houston's Alperen Şengün (replacing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and Toronto's Brandon Ingram (replacing Stephen Curry) are the three new players added to this weekend's All-Star rosters thus far."
Kawhi's All-Star appearance marks his first since 2023 after playing in just 76 combined games over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Şengün will be participating in his second career All-Star Game; as will Ingram who last qualified as a member of the Pelicans back in 2019.
LeBron James earns record-extending 22nd All-Star nod
While those players (outside of Kawhi Leonard) will be getting the AS experience for just the second time, Lakers forward LeBron James is preparing to make his record-extending 22nd appearance (the most all-time).
"Super humbling," James said earlier this month after finding out he'd be selected again. "The coaches voted, right, so mad respect to the coaches and them seeing the way I'm still playing at this latter stage of my career."
"And to be able to be an All-Star means a lot to my family, people that have been following my career, my LeBron faithful. They've been following my journey and it's always rewarding just from a humbling standpoint to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into," he added.
James is averaging nearly 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists at age 41 as the Lakers cling to first-place in the Pacific division standings with a 32-20 record.