CLEVELAND — The debate over Donovan Mitchell not being named a starter in this year's NBA All-Star Game will no doubt continue.
Still, it's hard to see his "consolation prize" as anything less than an amazing accomplishment.
The Cavaliers guard was chosen by the league's coaches as one of seven reserves for the Eastern Conference's All-Star team. It's the fifth consecutive All-Star selection for the 27-year-old, including both of his two seasons with Cleveland.
Mitchell, who on Thursday was also named the East's Player of the Month, is in the midst of arguably the best season of his NBA tenure. "Spida" is currently averaging 28.2 points per game along with career-highs of 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals (the top mark in the conference). The Cavs have rode his success to a 29-16 record, all despite being without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for more than a month until this week.
Yet even with his gaudy numbers, Mitchell was passed over for a staring guard spot in favor of Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton. It is worth nothing that the well-established Lillard is in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks after 11 years with the Portland Trail Blazers over in the Western Conference, while the young Haliburton has been the face of the Indiana Pacers, the host of this year's All-Star Game.
Mitchell was chosen as a starter for last year's contest, the first such selection in his career. Playing in front of his former fans in Utah, he scored 40 points as a member of "Team Giannis," which prevailed 184-175 over "Team LeBron."
While Mitchell was drafted as part of Giannis Antetokounmpo's squad a year ago, this winter's matchup will revert back to the traditional "East vs. West" format as well as eliminate the fourth-quarter target scoring system used during the last four seasons. Antetokounmpo will still serve as captain of the Eastern team after receiving the most All-Star votes in that conference, while Los Angeles Lakers forward and Cavaliers legend LeBron James will do the same in the West after earning his league-record 20th All-Star nod.
For the moment, Mitchell is Cleveland's only All-Star representative, even though some analysts felt his teammate Jarrett Allen was a prime candidate to join him. Allen, previously an honoree in 2022, is averaging an impressive 15.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game at center this season and could still potentially be named to the Eastern squad if one of the current players is forced to withdraw due to injury.
As it stands, here is the full list of men who will take part in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 18:
Eastern Conference
Starters
- Guard - Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
- Guard - Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
- Forward - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (captain)
- Forward - Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Center - Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Reserves
- Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Julius Randle, New York Knicks
- Tyrese Maxey, Phiadelphia 76ers
- Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Western Conference
Starters
- Guard - Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
- Guard - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Forward - LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (captain)
- Forward - Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Center - Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Reserves
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves