Warriors News: Golden State Has Two All-Star Game Starters For The First Time Since 1967
With Klay Thompson moving into the Western Conference starting lineup after an injury to Anthony Davis, the Warriors have two starters in the All-Star game for the first time since 1967.
Thompson joins leading vote-getter Stephen Curry, and they'll be the first pair of Warriors to start the All-Star game since Hall-of-Famers Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond started side-by-side at the Cow Palace back in '67. As the Western Conference team's coach, Warriors HC Steve Kerr was the one who decided to bring Thompson (and James Harden, replacing Blake Griffin) into his starting lineup.
The 1967 All-Star game - the first of two All-Star games hosted by the Warriors - saw Barry win the All-Star MVP award with 38 points on 16-27 shooting. His Western Conference squad won out 135-120, with Lakers star Jerry West (now the Warriors team advisor who recommended drafting Thompson and prevented him from being traded to Minnesota) also starting, pitching in 16 points and 6 assists. Thurmond dominated the glass, hauling down 18 rebounds.
Barry and Thurmond's performances are even more impressive when you take a look at their competition - the '67 Eastern Conference squad had Wilt Chamberlain starting at center, Oscar Robertson scoring 26 points to lead his team, and Celtics legends Bill Russell and John Havlicek coming off the bench.
Thompson and Curry will also participate in Saturday's three-point shootout event, and they'll be the first duo to both start the all-star game and represent their team in the shootout in the same year.
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