Luol Deng named first British NBA all-star as reserves are announced

Luol Deng named first British NBA all-star as reserves are announced:  New York Knicks point bouncer Jeremy Lin is lighting up the NBA this anniversary as the aboriginal American-born amateur of Chinese descent.

But he’s not the alone amateur authoritative history on the hardwood. On Thursday, Chicago Bulls advanced Luol Deng was called an Eastern Conference All-Star, acceptable the aboriginal anytime British amateur to acquire the distinction.

Deng — who was built-in in Sudan, emigrated to South London and went to top academy in New Jersey — is averaging 16 credibility and a career-best 7.3 rebounds per game. And his alternative provides a big addition for Britain’s civic basketball aggregation with the 2012 London Olympics fast approaching.

Deng joins assistant and ascendant MVP Derrick Rose on the Eastern Conference roster, actualization the aboriginal time the Bulls beatific two assembly to the bold aback Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen fabricated the aggregation in 1997.

“He plays a abundant attic game. He moves after the ball. He makes the added pass. And he has actual acceptable statistics, but you can’t admeasurement his appulse statistically,” Bulls drillmaster Tom Thibodeau said, while advancement for Deng. “I apperceive what he brings. I apperceive all the coaches and all his teammates acknowledge aggregate that he does.”

Joining Deng on the Eastern Conference bank are Atlanta bouncer Joe Johnson, Boston advanced Paul Pierce, New Jersey point bouncer Deron Williams, Miami advanced Chris Bosh and first-time selections Roy Hibbert (Indiana) and Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia). The East’s starters were appear backward endure anniversary and cover Rose, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.

The West agenda added three first-time selections as well, with Oklahoma City bouncer Russell Westbrook, Memphis centermost Marc Gasol and Portland advanced LaMarcus Aldridge. Minnesota foward Kevin Love, point bouncer Steve Nash (Phoenix) and Tony Parker (San Antonio) and Dallas advanced Dirk Nowitzki — authoritative his 11th beeline actualization — annular out the reserves.

“It was a boxy alley aback to abounding bloom for me, but I am accustomed that the coaches anticipation abundant of me to accomplish me an All-Star,” said Nowitzki, whose 17.6 credibility and 6.2 rebounds per bold are his affliction averages aback 1999-2000. “It has been a advantage to represent the Mavericks alignment over the endure decade and I attending advanced to accomplishing it afresh in Orlando.

Lakers teammtes Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, Clippers duo Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant will alpha for the Western Conference.

Notable omissions from the game, which takes abode on Feb. 26 in Orlando, included Boston’s Kevin Garnett, who saw his cord of 14 after selections snapped, and San Antonio centermost Tim Duncan, whose band concluded at 13.

Among the hopefuls who just absent out: Bucks bouncer Brandon Jennings (18.9 ppg, 5.3 apg), Memphis advanced Rudy Gay (18.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg), Golden State bouncer Monta Ellis (22.2 ppg, 6.1 apg), New York centermost Amare Stoudemire (18.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Houston point bouncer Kyle Lowry (14.7 ppg, 7.6 apg).