The starters for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto were announced Thursday night, with Kobe Bryant making it, Draymond Green missing out, Kyle Lowry edging Kyrie Irving, and Zaza Pachulia -- he's a quality starting big man for the Dallas Mavericks, in case you were wondering -- getting more votes than Green but missing a starting slot by about 14,000 votes.
Those who got in, naturally, were quite excited:
Thank you fans!! Two years in a row , I never could of imagined this in my wildest dreams!!! I love y'all!!
#north
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) January 22, 2016Thanks to all the fans for help making a dream come true. It never gets old, I really appreciate it!
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 22, 2016Humbled to be back. Thx for voting. Honored to play w/@KingJames @DwyaneWade @Yg_Trece @Klow7 #NBAAllStarTO
https://t.co/Z0CrvwPYCM
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) January 22, 2016Thankful to all my FANS for voting this old guy in as a starter for the 10th time in 12 years!!💃💃💃
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 22, 2016Thank you Micky and THANK YOU #heatnation everywhere!!! https://t.co/rPNYebJYvx
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 22, 2016Big congrts to @Klow7 @KingJames @Yg_Trece & @carmeloanthony on being voted in to represent the EAST as starters in the #ASG
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 22, 2016Thanks dog!! https://t.co/kXHe1BXx0D
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) January 22, 2016Non-All-Stars had mixed reactions:
Yessir! Shout out the gawd @carmeloanthony congrats 7
— Jerian Grant (@JerianGrant) January 22, 2016— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) January 22, 2016
Green's mom, Mary Babers-Green, had some things to say, causing Green to respond.
Like I said...A POPULARITY CONTEST!
— Mary Babers-Green (@BabersGreen) January 22, 2016I'm not mad..PPL voted for who they wanted to see...HE WILL ALWAYS BE MY ALL-STAR! He is living his dream, what more can you ask for! EATTT!
— Mary Babers-Green (@BabersGreen) January 22, 2016Alright.... Let me go monitor @BabersGreen timeline 👀👀👀👀👀 lol
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) January 22, 2016And then there was this:
Congrats to my little brother @Klow7. You making me a proud big bro out here man!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) January 22, 2016I'm older than you... Lol... But thanks bro... https://t.co/gn1QIEFQZl
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) January 22, 2016The 2016 All-Star Game will held Feb. 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. All-Star Game reserves, which are chosen by the league's coaches, will be revealed Jan. 28; it's a safe bet Green, who has helped lead the Golden State Warriors to a 39-4 record, will get a slot.