Celtics Notebook: Kyrie Irving named All-Star starter

The Celtics will have at least one representative in Charlotte for the All-Star game next month after Kyrie Irving was announced as a backcourt starter on Thursday night along with Kemba Walker. He'll be joined by Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid and top East vote getter Giannis Antetokounmpo as the starter representatives from the Eastern Conference.

It will be the sixth All-Star appearance for Irving in his eight NBA seasons and an easy election for the 26-year-old as he led East guards in fan, player, and media voting thanks to arguably his best all-around season to date.

The East starters will be joined in the draft pool by leading West vote getter LeBron James, Paul George and Kevin Durant in the frontcourt, with guards Steph Curry and James Harden in the backcourt. James and Antetokounmpo will be the team captains as they draft their teams in a TV special on the night of the trade deadline (Feb. 7).

All-Star reserves are voted on by the coaches and will be announced next Thursday. The odds of a second Celtic being selected would seem to be highly unlikely, although an additional spot will probably be available via injury replacement due to the unfortunate season-ending quad injury that Victor Oladipo suffered this past week. Jayson Tatum and Marcus Morris are the two names that will be considered for that spot, but any selection of either is highly unlikely amid a crowded field at the bottom of the East.

Jayson Tatum gets invite to Skills Competition and Rising Stars Challenge

While the second-year forward may not be an All-Star just yet, he will be present on All-Star weekend in Charlotte, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, to take part in the NBA skills competition as well as the Rising Stars Challenge.

Tatum will join Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford and Rajon Rondo as Celtics who have appeared in the skills competition which is a mix of shooting, passing and dribbling. Tatum will likely be the only Celtic representative in the Rising Stars game, which will be a US vs. the World format after getting rebranded over the last couple of years. That game will take place on Friday night of All-Star weekend.

Robert Williams sent to Maine

The big man was sent up North on Thursday by the big club in order to try to get in some action at two games this weekend. However, the first one of those was canceled on Thursday night due to a roof leak. He'll get another crack at it on Saturday night as the Red Claws face off with the Memphis Hustle.