Carmelo Anthony selected to replace Kevin Love as All-Star

Carmelo Anthony has been selected for the final All-Star game spot in the East.

Carmelo Anthony is having a rough year with the New York Knicks. Phil Jackson has been taking shots at him through the media. He’s been booed by his own fans in Madison Square Garden, and he’s been involved in endless trade rumors. He just can’t escape the drama this season.

Some of it is self created, but the large majority of it is Knicks created. Lucky for Anthony it looks like he’ll finally be getting some good news in the middle of this horrendous season.

The NBA announced today that Anthony will take the final All-Star spot in the Eastern Conference. He will replace Kevin Love, who has suffered a knee injury and will miss at least six weeks. Anthony is currently averaging 23 points, six rebounds and three assists per game, but the Knicks are not projected to make the playoffs.

It’s a bit of a surprise to see the NBA choose Anthony over potentially more deserving players. Bradley Beal was the hot selection among many NBA fans due to the great season he’s having and the Wizards’ rise in the standings, but there was also a case to be made for his teammate Otto Porter. There have also been compelling cases for other Eastern guards, but what potentially settled it in Anthony’s favor was the need for a forward. While the NBA technically was not required to select a forward with this spot, the East roster already has six guards. Adding a seventh would have created a bit of an imbalance for the game.

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Also helping Anthony’s case was the fan vote from earlier this year. Anthony finished sixth in voting, and all the players ahead of him on the list are either injured or already playing in the game. With the East’s need for a forward, and Anthony’s place in the fan vote, it makes sense that Adam Silver would choose to go with him for the final spot in the All-Star game.