Van Gundy gives J.J. All-Star start, J.J. turns down USA Basketball
Dallas–Hawks PR man Arthur Triche confirmed that Joe Johnson has been told he will make his first All-Star start on Sunday.
Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy, who is coaching the Eastern Conference for Sunday’s All-Star game, decided to start Johnson in place of Allen Iverson. Iverson bowed out of the game for personal reasons.
Van Gundy chose from among East guards Johnson, Rajon Rondo of Boston and Derrick Rose of Chicago. Rondo and Rose are first-time All-Stars while Johnson will play in his fourth straight game.
“I’m extremely excited by this honor, and appreciative that I’ve been selected,” Johnson told Triche. “Thanks to Coach Van Gundy for having the confidence in me and I hope to represent the Hawks well on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Johnson declined an opportunity to play for the U.S. national team at the 2010 world championships and 2012 Olympics.
USA Basketball national director Jerry Colangelo approached Johnson about being included in the 27-player pool for international competitions.
“I did it a few years back (at the 2006 FIBA World Championships),” Johnson said today at All-Star weekend. “I’m just not feeling it now. There is no disrespect intended at all–me and Jerry go way back to when I played for the Suns–but I just didn’t feel it.”
Colangelo said no other Hawks players were asked to join the player pool.
“Not on this go-around,” he said. “A lot of them are deserving but we are kind of limited by numbers.”
MC
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55 comments Add your comment
bigstack19
February 12th, 2010
4:53 pm
It doesn’t matter if I am first!
Mike is Back
February 12th, 2010
4:53 pm
Way to go JJ, get your rest and come back ready to lead your team to Easter Conference Final…that’s what’s up. I think it was great decision!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I’m firt…HaLLa @ ya booooooooooooooooooy!!!
Go Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!b
Mike is Back
February 12th, 2010
4:56 pm
Well, I’m not first…but close.
Jesse
February 12th, 2010
5:01 pm
So when people are first do they call their mom to let her know? And are the mom’s so proud of this great achievement? Cause it seems to be a REAL BIG DEAL here in Atlanta….. for some bizarre reason.
Ree Roe
February 12th, 2010
5:01 pm
lmao @ Mike.
*Ree Roe can’t wait to see Stan Van’s reaction to Iso Joe at the All Star game
-REEsuscitate Roe!!!
kayo da man
February 12th, 2010
5:02 pm
He should have been starting anyway. no disrespect to AI and I pray that his daughter is doing well.
UGA
February 12th, 2010
5:09 pm
Hey, is there any truth to the rumor that the Hawks are interested in Kurt Thomas?
ant banks
February 12th, 2010
5:24 pm
JESSE,
don’t hate cause you ain’t neva been first at nathan. lol. its jus’ fun to be first. i guess we have the competitve spirit and you don’t. if you played any high school or college sports and were good, you would recognize that competitive spirit.
try bein’ first to get to work or first gettin’ a project finished or first with an idea to save the company money and maybe you will get out of the mail room. lol
tjhook
February 12th, 2010
5:58 pm
How about seeing if we can pick up Larry Hughes? I heard that the Knicks may buy out his contract.
Astro Joe
February 12th, 2010
6:04 pm
Congrats to Joe! Now each of the top 4 teams has a starter in the East. COOL!
Astro Joe
February 12th, 2010
6:04 pm
tjhook, what are you thinking Hughes will do for us?
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2010
6:20 pm
Seriously, stop with the “first” thing…
Congrats to Joe, but he should have been voted as a starter in the first place!! Also, I’m glad he’s not going to rep for the USA. He did his tour a few years ago, and he’s at the point of his career where all of his professional focus should be on getting a ring. Smart move Joe-Joe…
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2010
6:22 pm
Btw, anybody who played any level of sports would NEVER consider posting comments on a website as “competitive”…
JoeJohnsonfan
February 12th, 2010
6:23 pm
Congrats Joe.
Eman
February 12th, 2010
6:55 pm
The hawks are going to lose again in the second round until they make a move for a big man!!!
tankandtank
February 12th, 2010
7:03 pm
first
oh posting first is pretty sad. i wish the people that had control of comments would just remove the people who post first.
Larry
February 12th, 2010
7:08 pm
Or, “Ant,” it could be that one tries to post “first” on a blog because “first” is a position they’re unaccustomed to elsewhere!
PUBLIX
February 12th, 2010
7:18 pm
TRADE JJ AND ZAZA TO PHILLY FOR DALEMBERT AND IGOUDALA. JJ IS NOT CONSISTANT. HELL IF PHILLY WANTS MORE GIVE THEM MARVIN AS WELL. THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LOOK LIKE:
CRAWFORD
IGOUDALA
SMITH
HORFORD
DALEMBERT
TEAGUE
WEST
EVANS
SMITH
COLLINS
THEN TAKE BIBBY AND TRADE HIM TO LAKERS FOR BROWN AND WALTON
Atl Resident
February 12th, 2010
7:19 pm
Van Gundy keeping it real by starting J.J. That’s really why Iverson not starting, cause he shouldn’t be anyway, he shouldn’t even be there. Iverson needs to stop with B.S. stating “personal” reasons and just keep things real.
Atl Resident
February 12th, 2010
7:21 pm
PUBLIX
February 12th, 2010
7:18 pm
TRADE JJ AND ZAZA TO PHILLY FOR DALEMBERT AND IGOUDALA. JJ IS NOT CONSISTANT. HELL IF PHILLY WANTS MORE GIVE THEM MARVIN AS WELL. THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LOOK LIKE:
CRAWFORD
IGOUDALA
SMITH
HORFORD
DALEMBERT
TEAGUE
WEST
EVANS
SMITH
COLLINS
THEN TAKE BIBBY AND TRADE HIM TO LAKERS FOR BROWN AND WALTON
What the hell is this?
PUBLIX
February 12th, 2010
7:23 pm
ARE YOU NOT TIRED OF WATCHING JJ GO HOT, THEN COLD, THEN HOT THEN COLD AGAIN. HE IS VERY INCONSISTANT AND NOT A LEADER AT ALL. IF YOU TRADE HIM NOW, YOU WILL GET SOMETHING IN RETURN, IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, HE WILL BE GONE FOR NOTHING.
YOU CAN TELL HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE HERE, WHY ELSE WOULD HE TURN DOWN 60 MILLION? EVERY TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM INSTEAD OF HIM BEING THE MOTIVATOR, HE GOES TO THE PRESS AND CRIES.
Astro Joe
February 12th, 2010
7:27 pm
Publix, so what you are saying is that Iggy and Dalembert are more consistent than Joe Johnson? Dude, go make some of that yummy potato salad and clean up the mess on aisle 7.
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
7:38 pm
IM STOWED INN TONIGHT CHILL AT HOME AND TALK CRAZY ON THE BLOGG AND STARTE ARGUEMENT WITH SOME ONE IM BORED LOL.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
7:39 pm
PUBLIX what the h? you must work at publix.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
kevin
February 12th, 2010
7:47 pm
I like how ppl are like, “trade this guy for this one.”….like its that easy…and why would Philly want to take on JJ for the rest of the year and then he walks away…..Hey, you piss-ants, this isnt your xbox/ps3 nba game where you can trade for whoever and whenever you want……”uh yeaaaah lets trade JJ, J-Smigh, and Marvin…for uhhhh Kobe or Dwade.”……
niremetal
February 12th, 2010
7:55 pm
That was variation number 2354432543 of Publix’s proposal to trade Joe Johnson. At least this one’s an improvement. Over the summer, he suggested trading JJ for a big man.
4 inches of snow and Atlantans are snowed in. Oh to be in the South again. Call me back when y’all get 24 inches more
niremetal
February 12th, 2010
7:56 pm
*a big man of significantly lesser quality – Hibbert.
Michael
February 12th, 2010
8:01 pm
“Or, “Ant,” it could be that one tries to post “first” on a blog because “first” is a position they’re unaccustomed to elsewhere!”
I think you’ve hit it on the head.
Parvati
February 12th, 2010
8:04 pm
“Georgia senior center Albert Jackson was arrested early Friday on an outstanding warrant stemming from a misdemeanor hit-and-run in an Athens parking lot two years ago.”
Here we go. Arrest #1 for the year. Thugs rule at UGA!
This is your brains on drugs
February 12th, 2010
8:08 pm
PUBLIX try and get some help. You can still make a positive contribution to society.
A serum of truth!
February 12th, 2010
8:11 pm
Eman
February 12th, 2010
6:55 pm
“The hawks are going to lose again in the second round until they make a move for a big man!!!”
bigstack19
February 12th, 2010
8:13 pm
I believe my post says It doesn’t matter if I am first. I could care less about being first. I was taking a dig at the goobers who always post first like they just cured cancer and had sex with a supermodel in the same day. I guess sarcasm is lost on stupid people.
superbasketballfan
February 12th, 2010
8:24 pm
hawks need to trade jj and zaza for caron butler and brandon heywood that would give them a real good chance to make it to the nba finals. dwight howard does not dominate haywood at all the lineup should look like this…. mike bibby, caron butler, josh smith, al hortford, brandon heywood. keep bringing jamal off the bench til the playoffs then start him. get tayshon prince, for marvin williams, and bring in a 6′8” player that can play the 2 and 3 posistions. caron butler, and brandon are free agents after this year anyway they would love to play for a playoff team. Rick sund you should take my advice and pull the trigger on this one.
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
8:42 pm
SUPERBASKETBALL FAN yes i like that one, what about adding this JOE JOHNSON, ZAZA, JOE SMITH, AND MOE EVAN, for CARON, JAMINSON, HEYWOOD.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
8:45 pm
STARTER BIBBY, CARON, JOSH, JAMINSON, HORFORD,
BENCH TEAGUE, JAMAL, MARVIN, MORRIS, HEYWOOD.
RESERVE COLLINS, MARIO
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Road to oblivion
February 12th, 2010
8:55 pm
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
8:45 pm
STARTER BIBBY, CARON, JOSH, JAMINSON, HORFORD,
BENCH TEAGUE, JAMAL, MARVIN, MORRIS, HEYWOOD.
RESERVE COLLINS, MARIO
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Best Bet
February 12th, 2010
8:59 pm
JJ, Crawford, Marvin,josh, amare Stoudamire
teague morris zaza, moe evan bibby.
cookieman
February 12th, 2010
9:02 pm
38th
Your Brain On Drugs The Sequel
February 12th, 2010
9:02 pm
superbasketballfan
February 12th, 2010
8:24 pm
hawks need to trade jj and zaza for caron butler and brandon heywood that would give them a real good chance to make it to the nba finals. dwight howard does not dominate haywood at all the lineup should look like this…. mike bibby, caron butler, josh smith, al hortford, brandon heywood. keep bringing jamal off the bench til the playoffs then start him. get tayshon prince, for marvin williams, and bring in a 6′8” player that can play the 2 and 3 posistions. caron butler, and brandon are free agents after this year anyway they would love to play for a playoff team. Rick sund you should take my advice and pull the trigger on this one.
ajcfan
February 12th, 2010
9:10 pm
yo sequel, the whole point of re-signing zaza and marvin was to keep the core together. Honestly what can anyone see wrong in the hawks starting lineup. Looks perfectly fine to me. 33-18 thats pretty good already wouldn’t you think so? KEEP MARVIN, AND ZAZA! They are important to our playoffs and by the way why would the hawks want 2 other felons from the wizards. Both butler and haywood probably have guns too. KEEP THE HAWKS CORE, DONT BRING WASHINGTON FELON PLAYERS TO OUR GOOD TEAM! HAWKS are good with their team no need for change.
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
9:15 pm
Kurt thomas is wash up give me a break, if rick sund even trade the gatorade guy for him ASG will fire rick the next day unbelievable.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Will JJ get a new deal in Atlanta
February 12th, 2010
9:16 pm
Will JJ work with the hawks to stay a hawk? Anyone….
Thekid2Kill
February 12th, 2010
9:25 pm
Thank you Stan Van Gundy!!!
make us proud JJ.
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
9:34 pm
No joe is gone he want max, but joe not worth max.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
darrell starks
February 12th, 2010
9:36 pm
The hawks offer joe 4year 64mill he turned it down ASG DID ITS JOB.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
Fighting Words
February 12th, 2010
9:36 pm
A person who had seen the proposal told The Associated Press on Thursday that it called for first-round picks to have their salaries cut by about one-third, would reduce the minimum salary by as much as 20 percent, and would guarantee contracts for only half their value. Also, the total value of a maximum salary would drop sharply, as would the total years players could sign for.
The proposal rallied the players, especially after Hunter forwarded them comments from an executive who recently told CBSSports.com that, “if they don’t like the new max contracts, LeBron can play football, where he will make less than the new max. Wade can be a fashion model or whatever. They won’t make squat and no one will remember who they are in a few years.”
TheAntiMe
February 12th, 2010
10:44 pm
Colangelo said no other Hawks players were asked to join the player pool.
“Not on this go-around,” he said. “A lot of them are deserving but we are kind of limited by numbers.”
That’s a crock of doody if there ever was one (that there is no room)!
BONE
February 12th, 2010
11:01 pm
Man we shoulda taken Dejaun Blair in the draft. That boy is a Beast
Eman
February 12th, 2010
11:11 pm
I like Blair too. He could provide us with the energy and rebounding needed to compete with Cleveland and Boston.
O'Brien
February 12th, 2010
11:22 pm
Rebounding is mostly about effort. Thats why a guy like Blair can get you the rebounds that he does.
I want to see our guys rebound like that.
But how about the OKC Thunder. They have done very well with their draft picks. Durant and Westbrook have the potential to be studs.
O'Brien
February 12th, 2010
11:24 pm
And congrats to JJ being names the starter.
I see that the Mavericks are close to acquiring Butler and Haywood. I’m glad because that means they are not going to Boston.
Timmy
February 13th, 2010
12:21 am
Not first, but at least top 100!!!
Can’t wait to one day be first!
PUBLIX
February 13th, 2010
8:38 am
‘NEARMENTAL’ SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THAT HIBBERT WILL NOT TURN IN TO AN ALLSTAR PRETTY SOON?
WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE IN ORDER FOR US TO GET RID OF JJ? IN ORDER FOR US TO WIN ANYTHING WE NEED A BIG, NOT SURE HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING BBALL BUT USUALLY THE TEAM THAT WINS A CHAMPIONSHIP HAS A 7 FOOTER WHO CAN EITHER SCORE, PLAY D OR DO BOTH. WHAT DO WE HAVE?
SINCE YOU DIDN’T LIKE THE OTHER ONE, HOW ABOUT GOING JJ, MARVIN AND ZAZA FOR A DRAFT PICK AND LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE?
Flightnight
February 13th, 2010
3:02 pm
Why would you want butler and jamison and they can’t beat the current Hawks with Joe Johnson? Plus, if butler and jamison are so great why are they not doing better when they had B. Heyward, Arenas, Mike Miller, Stevenson, Blatche, N. Young and others. Maybe because they are what they are. Average to good players in the NBA who provide good to great numbers because of the teams they play for.
ronaldjc
February 14th, 2010
1:59 pm
LAST!