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Andrew LopezESPN
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen was named as a replacement in Sunday’s All-Star Game by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Monday afternoon.
Allen will replace Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, who will miss the game because of his hamstring strain. The 76ers announced Harden was going to miss the team’s final games before the All-Star break as he rehabs the injury.
The All-Star festivities are set for this weekend in Cleveland and now the Cavaliers will have two participants in the All-Star Game itself as Allen joins teammate Darius Garland. Both Allen and Garland will be on Team LeBron.
Allen is averaging 16.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season — both career highs — to go along with 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 66.5% overall, a mark that ranks second in the league. Like Garland, Allen earns his first NBA All-Star selection.
Allen becomes the third All-Star replacement this season, joining the San Antonio Spurs‘ Dejounte Murray and Charlotte Hornets‘ LaMelo Ball. They were selected to replace the Golden State Warriors‘ Draymond Green and Brooklyn Nets‘ Kevin Durant, who both will miss the game because of injuries.