A pair of Bradley Beal Elite alums are headed to the Bay Area to represent their respective teams at the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics were chosen to the Eastern Conference pool for All-Star Weekend. Tatum will appear in his sixth All-Star Game and start for the fifth time while Garland is chosen as a reserve for the second time.
For Darius, his second All-Star nod comes in his sixth NBA season. He was also named as a reserve in 2022. Like he did that season, Garland is currently averaging 21.7 points per game, while also dishing out nearly seven assists per game and shooting a career-best 50 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from three-point range.
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When he found out about the nod, Darius reflected about his journey back to the All-Star Game, including a jaw injury last season that cost him 25 games and a chance to appear.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I remember last year around this time I was at home with a jaw wired shut. Couldn’t eat, couldn’t talk. So being here today, it’s a blessing, you know? All the hard work put in and sacrifices. And then it’s a testament to the team as well. Going 15-0, having a great start like that. And then continuing to just [keep getting] wins, that helps a lot, too. So it’s also a team award for all of us.”
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The Cavaliers are currently 40-9, putting them comfortably atop the Eastern Conference standings with the NBA’s best record. Coach Kenny Atkinson, who will also represent the Cavs as an All-Star coach, believes that standings is thanks in no small part to DG.
“If he’s not an All-Star, I don’t know what an All-Star looks like,” Atkinson said.
The same can be said about Tatum, who will be going to his sixth consecutive All-Star Game and was selected as an All-Star starter for the fifth straight time.
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JT finished tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo for first among East frontcourt players with media members in the weighted voting and second behind Giannis with fans and coaches. His 3.6 million fan votes were third among all players.
“It means a lot. Being an All-Star is a hell of an accomplishment,” Tatum said. Being a starter, just knowing that the fans support you and appreciate you and want to see you out there, it’s just something I dreamed about as a kid. Six All-Stars at 26 is something I don’t take for granted.”
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Tatum is currently averaging 26.9 points per game while also impacting the Celtics in other ways, with averages of 8.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per games, which would both be career highs.
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will institute a new format, so it remains to be seen if Jayson and Darius will play for the same team.
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The 74th NBA All-Star Game will be played on February 16th.
