It turns out Isaiah Thomas won’t be the lone representative for the Boston Celtics at All-Star Weekend after all.
Celtics Coach Brad Stevens and his staff will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars against Steve Kerr’s Western Conference squad on Feb. 19 in New Orleans. The top team from each conference at the All-Star break sends its coaching staff to the All-Star Game. Cleveland Coach Tyronn Lue was ineligible, though, because he coached the team last season.
So Stevens and his staff found out after Friday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers that he would be representing the Celtics in New Orleans alongside Thomas, who is making his second straight appearance in the annual celebration of the NBA’s best. Stevens was quick to deflect credit elsewhere.
“I think none of us are crazy enough to think you get there without really good players, and the players certainly carry the coaches,” Stevens said.
One player who wouldn’t hide his excitement over the announcement was Thomas.
“They should put me in that starting lineup,” he joked, adding, “it says a lot. It says we are winning and we’re doing pretty good.”