Already selected as an All-Star reserve by the Western Conference’s coaches, Markkanen on Friday was bumped into the starting lineup as a result of the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson being ruled out with a strained right hamstring.
Two other starters for the game were also ruled out Friday due to injury — Warriors guard Stephen Curry , and forward Kevin Durant , who was voted in as an Eastern Conference starter while a member of the Brooklyn Nets, who who was subsequently traded to the Phoenix Suns.
In order to fill out the All-Star rosters, NBA commissioner Adam Silver named the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox, the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, and the Raptors’ Pascal Siakam as injury replacements.Previous seasons have seen the highest vote-getters in each conference serve as team captains, then participate in a televised draft roughly a week before the game, first alternating picks from among the pool of players chosen as starters, then from the reserves.