Kristaps Porzingis’ ACL tear stinks.
It stinks for him. It stinks for the Knicks. It stinks for the NBA.
But a silver lining: Kemba Walker is getting his (deserved) All-Star berth. And Andre Drummond, who has developed so much as a playmaker this season, is getting another stage.
NBA release:
Silver chooses All-Star injury replacements, and the commissioner has previously just deferred to the next player up in the coaches’ reserve vote. But unlike with Paul George, Drummond and Goran Dragic, the NBA’s release did not say Walker “received the most voting points from NBA head coaches” among players from his conference who weren’t already selected. Cue the Ben Simmons conspiracy theories.
Walker was the right choice, though. The biggest knock against him – the Hornets’ dismal 23-30 record – is undercut by how darn well Charlotte plays with him on the floor. He shouldn’t be punished for the Hornets falling apart during his brief rests.
