John Wall selected to play in All-Star Game for third consecutive season

John Wall will be joining the rest of the league’s elite on all-star weekend for the third consecutive season.

The Washington Wizards’ point guard was named to the Eastern Conference all-star team on Thursday night, when the reserves were announced.

Wall started the game last season in New York. After finishing sixth among Eastern Conference guards in fan voting, Wall was placed among the reserves this season. He is the lone representative from the Wizards, who have not had two all-stars in the same season since Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison were named to the team in 2008.

“I’m honored to be able to represent the Wizards organization, my coaches and teammates and our fans for a third time at all-star weekend,” Wall said in a statement released by the team. “I’m looking forward to enjoying the festivities in Toronto, but my main focus will continue to be getting our team ready for a playoff push both before and after the break.”

Wall was named the Eastern Conference player of the month in December and its player of the week on Jan. 18. He is one of two Wizards players to play in every game during the injury-filled season. He’s averaging a career-high 19.6 points, a conference-leading 9.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds.

Wall is the 28th player in franchise history to earn all-star honors and the first Wizards player since Gilbert Arenas in 2005, 2006 and 2007 to earn three all-star selections.

“You look at the guys that have made the all-star team, what are they doing with their game as they move on?” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. “I think we’ve seen John learn how to know when he has to score and when he doesn’t, when he needs to get the ball moving. From a point guard situation, that’s very important. Through everything that we’ve had from an injury standpoint, he’s been our one guy that’s been constant. I think that deserves, without a question, that he should be on that team.”

The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry are the starting guard for the game, which will be held Feb. 14 in Toronto. Also named to the Eastern Conference’ team were Miami’s Chris Bosh, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan, the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, the Boston Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas, the Atlanta Hawks’ Paul Millsap and the Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond.