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NBA names Arenas All-Star replacement
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-11 10:14
NEW YORK (AP) - Gilbert Arenas is headed to the all-star game after all.
The Washington Wizards guard was picked Friday by NBA commissioner David
Stern to replace Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal, who was voted in as an Eastern
Conference starter but is injured.
Washington Wizards
guard Gilbert Arenas drives to the basket during an NBA basketball game
against the Orlando Magic Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, in Washington. Arenas
scored a game high 23 points in the Wizards 92-84 win. [AP] |
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"It's an honour. Thank you, David Stern," Arenas said before Friday night's
game against Cleveland.
Arenas was perhaps the biggest omission on the East team when reserves for
the Feb. 19 game in Houston were announced Thursday night. He ranked fourth in
the league with an average of 28.2 points per game.
Arenas said Thursday he would use the snub as motivation. Even now that he's
in, he'll still have a chip on his shoulder over his late selection.
"There's still motivation there," said Arenas, who will be making his second
consecutive all-star appearance. "I've still got things to prove. I'm going to
always have something to prove in this league. I'm one of those players who's
just got to keep fighting, and I'm not going to give up."
Arenas said he received word of his selection via an e-mail sent to his
cellphone. His reaction: "It ain't April Fools' yet?" he said.
East coach Flip Saunders will decide who replaces O'Neal in the starting
lineup, though he indicated it probably won't be one of his four Detroit players
who were selected.
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