Hawks forward Paul Millsap receives third straight All-Star nod

Paul Millsap is heading to Toronto for NBA All-Star Weekend.

For the third consecutive season, each coming in an Atlanta Hawks uniform, the 30-year-old forward was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve by the league's coaches.

Millsap's inclusion came as no surprise on Thursday night as he's in the middle of a career season after re-signing with the Hawks this past summer. He's averaging career highs in every major statistical category — posting 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game through 46 games played — and he ranks top-five in player efficiency rating and wins shares among East players.

The unquestioned top player of the 27-20 Hawks, Millsap finished 15th in voting among Eastern Conference frontcourt players, but of the remaining names the coaches had to choose from only Miami Heat big man Chris Bosh is having a similarly stellar season among East big men.

As Al Horford said of Millsap earlier this season, "He just always finds ways to get better. He's always been able to (fill up the stat sheet). I just think now people are taking more notice of it. He can do it all on the floor for us."

Millsap will be joined on the East reserves by Bosh, Jimmy Butler (Bulls), John Wall (Wizards), Isaiah Thomas (Celtics), Andre Drummond (Pistons) and DeMar DeRozan (Raptors).

There was some talk of Horford (15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds) being in the mix for an All-Star reserve spot, a theory Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer publicly subscribed to, but a season removed from placing four players on the All-Star roster Atlanta is left with Millsap flying solo. He's more than earned it.