NEW YORK, February 8 – Six first-time All-Stars headline the list of reserves for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, February 20 at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas and forward Antawn Jamison and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade will all make their first career All-Star appearance for the Eastern Conference. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers, forwards Jermaine O’Neal of the Indiana Pacers, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons round out the Eastern reserves.
Three Western Conference players are also making their initial All-Star appearance as forwards Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, Rashard Lewis of the Seattle SuperSonics and Amaré Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns have each been invited to Denver. Also named to the Western Conference All-Star team are guard Ray Allen of Seattle, forward Shawn Marion and guard Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and forward Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks.
