NBA All-Star reserves announced

New York, NY (Basketball News) - The NBA has announced 14 reserves for the 2005 All-Star Game to be played on Sunday, February 20 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

Among the seven players selected from each conference, six will be first-time participants in the All-Star game. The 14 players picked were chosen by a vote of the 30 NBA head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.

The reserves for the Eastern Conference are Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas and forward Antawn Jamison, Miami guard Dwyane Wade, Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, forward Jermaine O’Neal of the Pacers, Boston forward Paul Pierce and Pistons center Ben Wallace. Arenas, Jamison and Wade will all make their first career All-Star appearance.

For the Western Conference, forwards Manu Ginobili of the Spurs, Rashard Lewis of Seattle and Amaré Stoudemire of the Suns will all make their initial All- Star appearance. Also named to the Western All-Star team are guard Ray Allen of the Sonics, forward Shawn Marion and guard Steve Nash of Phoenix and forward Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks.

Should any player be unable to participate in the All-Star Game due to injury, NBA Commissioner David Stern will select the replacement.

Stan Van Gundy of the Miami Heat will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs will represent the West.