NBA All-Star Game 2022: Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will replace 76ers guard James Harden

Gilbert McGregor

NBA All-Star Game 2022: Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will replace 76ers guard James Harden image

When the 2022 NBA All-Star Game tips off on Sunday, Feb. 20, 76ers guard James Harden will not be in action.

On Monday, Feb. 14, the Sixers announced that their newly-acquired guard will miss the team's next two games and will not play in the NBA All-Star Game as he rehabilitates a left hamstring injury.

Harden, who earned the 10th All-Star selection of his career this year, was acquired by the 76ers at the Feb. 10 trade deadline. In 44 games with the Nets this season, Harden posted averages of 22.5 points, 10.2 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game.

MORE: The latest updates on James Harden's hamstring injury

In a now-viral moment, Harden was the final selection in the 2022 NBA All-Star Draft as Nets forward Kevin Durant declined to select his former teammate.

With Harden unable to play, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver elected to appoint Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen as his injury replacement for Team LeBron on Sunday.

Jarrett Allen named James Harden's injury replacement at 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Pascal-Siakam-Jrue-Holiday-02142022-Getty-FTR
(Getty Images)

A member of the All-Star host Cavaliers, Allen is averaging 16.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 66.5 percent from the field.

With Cleveland hosting the All-Star Game and Allen anchoring the defense of one of the East's top teams, he made the most sense to replace Harden. This marks Allen's first career All-Star selection.

Who were Harden's injury replacement snubs?

Pascal Siakam, F, Raptors

Siakam, a one-time All-Star, is playing the best basketball of his career. Yes, even better than his All-Star season.

Through 42 games, Siakam is averaging 22.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists for a Raptors team that has surged in the East standings as of late, earning him Player of the Week honors for games played from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6.

Jrue Holiday, G, Bucks

The defending champs already have two All-Stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, but Holiday would be a worthy third.

Holiday, who earned the lone All-Star selection of his career in 2013, is still one of the league's most elite two-way talents, averaging 18.0 points and 6.6 assists on .505/.402/.769 shooting splits while maintaining his All-Defensive-Team level play on the other end of the floor.

Jaylen Brown, G, Celtics

After earning his first career All-Star nod in 2021, Brown missed out on a selection this year.

Boston's star guard has already turned in a 46-point game and a 50-point game this season and is averaging 23.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.