Defending All-Star Weekend 3-point champion Marco Belinelli said he has gotten the invitation from league officials to defend the long ball championship he won in New Orleans last year.
“Yes, I will be there,” Belinelli said before Wednesday’s Spurs-Hornets game at the AT&T Center. “I am really looking forward to it.”
Belinelli said he welcomes the challenge he anticipates from shooters like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors’ “Splash Brothers,” in New York.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
Belinelli, who suffered a groin strain in the Spurs’ win over the Suns on Dec. 9, sat out his 10th consecutive game Wednesday but expects to return to the lineup long before All-Star Weekend. He has participated in shooting drills at recent practice sessions, but coach Gregg Popovich offered no clues about when he may play again.
“When I see him out there that’s when I will know,” he said.
This is probably going to be the only part of the All-Star weekend that i'm going to watch. I don't think Marco stands a chance against the Splash Brothers and Korver but we'll see what happens.