Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam on Thursday was named a starter at the NBA's All-Star Game for the first time in his young career.
Siakam is on track for his best NBA season even after he missed almost an entire month with a stretched groin. The league's reigning Most Improved Player is averaging 23.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 2019-20 — all career highs.
He is the Raptors' leading point-scorer, averages the second-most rebounds per game on the team and played his way into the MVP conversation prior to his December injury.
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NBA Champion
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 24, 2020
Most Improved Player
NBA All-Star
Congrats, @pskills43! pic.twitter.com/XED72t1mvF
The league announced Siakam and nine other players as All-Star game starters on Thursday, along with the two All-Star team captains. The game's starters were decided by votes from three factions: a fan vote via Google that was conducted from Dec. 25 at 11 a.m. ET through Jan. 20 at 11:59 p.m. (which accounted for 50 percent), a player vote (25 percent) and a media panel (25 percent).
Here are the NBA's 2020 All-Star Game starters. Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James will make up the two team captains.
| Player | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam | Toronto Raptors | Forward |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | Forward |
| Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | Guard |
| Kemba Walker | Boston Celtics | Guard |
| Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | Center |
| LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | Forward |
| Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | Center |
| Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | Forward |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | Guard |
| James Harden | Houston Rockets | Guard |
The All-Star Game's reserve players, which are selected by NBA head coaches, will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 30 with the game taking place at Chicago's United Center on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET.