Indiana Pacers star Domantas Sabonis will replace injured Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant in the All-Star Game, the NBA announced Friday.
The news came shortly after the Nets announced that Durant, who was named a starter and team captain, will remain out through the All-Star break with a strained left hamstring.
Durant will be replaced as a starter by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum — the highest ranking forward among the Eastern Conference reserves — with Sabonis taking Tatum’s spot among the reserves. It remains unclear whether Durant will remain as a team captain in charge of selecting players despite not playing in the game.
Sabonis, 24, is averaging a career-high 21.1 points and 5.7 assists to go along with 11.7 rebounds per game this season. He ranks second in the league in double-doubles with 24 and has recorded three triple-doubles for the 15-15 Pacers.
Sabonis, who is in the first year of a 4-year, $75 million extension, will earn a $1.3 million bonus for getting selected to the All-Star game as a replacement player, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
This is Sabonis’ second straight All-Star selection.