Goran Dragic to Replace Kevin Love at 2018 NBA All-Star Game After PF's Injury

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver selected Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic on Thursday to be Kevin Love's replacement for the All-Star Game.

He will play on the team captained by LeBron James. It will be Dragic's first appearance in the All-Star Game. 

Dragic, 31, is averaging 17.0 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game for the 29-22 Heat.

Silver selected Dragic over players like Philadelphia 76ers rookie sensation Ben Simmons (16.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.8 SPG), Detroit's newest addition Blake Griffin (22.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG) and Kemba Walker (22.4 PPG, 5.8 APG), all of whom likewise presented viable All-Star cases. 

Suffice to say, Dragic's selection wasn't without controversy: 

But the Heat have quietly been one of the best stories in the NBA this season. They're currently sitting at fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and Dragic has been one of the main reasons for their success. 

And per Marc Stein of the New York Times, the NBA noted Dragic received the next-most votes amongst the Eastern Conference coaches for the All-Star reserves. That made him the likely choice to be selected for Love's vacated spot, even if other players had a legitimate claim as well.