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According to reports, both LaMarcus Aldridge has been voted by the coaches to play in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. However. Damian Lillard was shockingly snubbed by the coaches:
ESPN sources say LaMarcus Aldridge has made the Western Conference All-Star team ... but DeMarcus Cousins appears to have missed out
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 29, 2015
Portland's Damian Lillard has been left off the Western Conference All-Star reserves, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 30, 2015
This is Aldridge's fourth All-Star appearance, in four consecutive seasons. He is having one of his best seasons, averaging a career-high 23.3 points per game, along with 10.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 blocks. Aldridge is currently battling a torn ligament in his thumb, but has stated he plans to play in the All-Star Game.
LaMarcus @aldridge_12 said that if he gets selected for the All-Star Game, he's playing
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 25, 2015
Aldridge has total of 8 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in 35 combined minutes over three previous All-Star Games.
Since last year's All-Star appearance, Aldridge's national profile was raised thanks to a dominating performance in Games 1 and 2 against the Houston Rockets in the 2014 playoffs.
This would have Lillard's second All-Star appearance, after being voted in by the coaches last season. Despite a recent shooting slump, he is averaging 22 points per game, as well as 6.2 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Lillard told the Blazers' Casey Holdahl that if he was snubbed, he would be extremely upset:
"If I do make it, I’ll be excited," said Lillard. "I’m looking forward to being in another All-Star game. If I don’t, I’m going to be pissed off and you’ll see a re-energized Damian Lillard after the break. I’ll be re-energized anyway, but if I don’t make it, you’ll see it even more."
Since last year's All-Star appearance, Lillard's national profile skyrocketed with multiple commercial campaigns, including Foot Locker, and a spot on the cover of EA Sports' NBA Live '15. Also, he hit a somewhat-famous shot.
The 2015 NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 pm on TNT. The Western Conference team will be coached by the Golden State Warriors' Steve Kerr, due to having the best record at the mid-point of the season.
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant was voted by the fans to start in the All-Star game, but is out for the rest of the season after surgery. The NBA will choose a replacement for him soon, with Lillard likely a favorite to get that spot.
Aldridge and Lillard's teammate Wesley Matthews will reportedly be appearing in the previous day's All-Star festivities, during the 2015 Three-Point Shootout. The full schedule is available here.