Jarrett Allen was selected to replace James Harden in the upcoming All-Star Game. The Cleveland Cavaliers center has earned his first All-Star berth, confirming he’s having a terrific season with one of the most surprising teams in the league this year.
Allen landed in Cleveland as part of the 4-team trade that sent James Harden to Brooklyn last year, and now their paths have crossed again. Harden was part of Team LeBron after Kevin Durant picked Rudy Gobert with his last selection in the All-Star Game draft.
Allen would join LeBron James and fellow Cavaliers player Darius Garland this Sunday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. After the Sixers announced newly-acquired Harden will remain sidelined until after the All-Star break, Commissioner Adam Silver selected Allen as his replacement.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden on Team LeBron in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
The matchup between Team LeBron and Team Durant in the 71st NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States and reaching fans in 215 countries and territories in 59 languages.
Allen has earned his first NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging a career-high 16.2 points, a career-high 11.1 rebounds and 1.35 blocked shots in 49 games this season. A five-year NBA veteran, Allen ranks ninth in the league in rebounds per game and 13th in blocks per game. He also ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage at a career-high 66.5 percent and tied for sixth in double-doubles with 30.
The 23-year-old Allen is the second Cleveland player to be named a first-time NBA All-Star this season, joining guard Darius Garland, who was drafted by Team Durant. Behind Allen and Garland, the Cavaliers (35-22) have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Harden will not play in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game because of a left hamstring injury. He was selected by NBA head coaches as a reserve.
Allen has shown his quality since his days with the Nets. He has everything to be successful in the league and this selection confirms that he and his team are doing an incredible job competing in the Eastern Conference.
