Tim Duncan and Tony Parker selected to play in 2013 All Star Game

SAN ANTONIO (January 24, 2013) – The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan and guard Tony Parker have been selected by NBA head coaches to play in the 2013 All-Star Game to be held on Sunday, Feb. 17 in Houston. This marks the 15th time in franchise history that the Spurs have sent multiple players to the All-Star Game.

With his 14th All-Star selection Duncan becomes just the eighth player in NBA history to be named an All-Star 14-or-more times (joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 19 selections, Shaquille O’Neal, 15, Kobe Bryant, 15, Kevin Garnett, 15, Michael Jordan, 14, Karl Malone, 14 and Jerry West, 14). Duncan was selected as an All-Star in each of his first 13 NBA seasons (there was no All-Star Game held in 1999 due to the NBA lockout), joining Bob Cousy, West and O’Neal as the only players in history to accomplish that feat. He was named the co-MVP of the 2000 All-Star Game along with O’Neal. In NBA All-Star history, Duncan ranks fifth in rebounds with 124 (behind Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell). Among active players in NBA All-Star action, he ranks first in rebounds (124) and sixth in points (136). This season Duncan is averaging 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.74 blocks in 30.2 minutes while shooting .505 (295-584) from the field and a career-best .826 (142-172) from the foul line.

Parker earns his second consecutive All-Star selection and his fifth overall. He joins George Gervin (9), David Robinson (10) and Duncan (14) as the only players in Spurs franchise history to be selected as an All-Star five-or-more times. In his four All-Star appearances, Parker has averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.

This season Parker is averaging a team-high 19.8 points, 7.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 32.8 minutes while shooting .520 (338-650) from the field, .392 (20-51) from three-point range and .815 (154-189) from the foul line. He currently ranks eighth in the NBA in assists, 11th in scoring and 20th in field goal percentage. He is the only player in the NBA averaging 19-plus points and 7-plus assists while shooting .500 or better from the field.

Joining the two Spurs players as reserves on the West squad are: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), David Lee (Golden State Warriors), Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder). Voted to start for the West were Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers), Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Dwight Howard (L.A. Lakers) and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder).

NBA Commissioner David Stern will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game. If the injured player is a starter, the head coach of that team will determine who replaces him in the starting lineup.

The 2013 NBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 6 p.m. (Central) on Sunday, Feb. 17, from Toyota Center in Houston. The game will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.