Heat's Bam Adebayo to Start 2024 NBA All-Star Game After Joel Embiid's Knee Injury

After being named to the NBA All-Star Game for the third time in his career, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo will make his first start in the showcase event.

Per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Adebayo was added to the starting lineup with Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid unable to participate due to injury.

Adebayo will be the first Heat player to start in the All-Star Game since Dwyane Wade in 2016.

Adebayo will be joined by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard in the Eastern Conference starting lineup.

Embiid was voted in as a starter for the Eastern Conference frontcourt, along with Antetokounmpo and Tatum.

The starting roster was announced on Feb. 1, two days after Embiid suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of Philadelphia's 119-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He underwent surgery on his lateral meniscus on Feb. 6, at which point it was announced he would be re-evaluated in four weeks.

There were two spots open on the Eastern Conference roster because of injuries to Embiid and New York Knicks forward Julius Randle. The NBA added Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young to the team in their place.

Adebayo was among the seven Eastern Conference reserves named to the original team. He's been the anchor for the Heat so far this season with Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro missing extended periods due to injuries.

The 26-year-old is averaging 20.2 points and a career-high 10.6 rebounds per game in 45 starts. His 30 double-doubles are tied with Luka Dončić for the eighth-most in the NBA this season.

This is the second consecutive year and third time in the last five seasons that Adebayo has been named to the All-Star team. He's the first Heat center to make the team since Chris Bosh in 2014-15.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.