Arenas Isn't Tapped For All-Star Game

Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas was not selected as an all-star reserve by the Eastern Conference coaches, a league source confirmed yesterday. Arenas is averaging 27.9 points per game and ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring behind Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and LeBron James. Those three were all voted to the Feb. 19 game in Houston as starters.

Coach Eddie Jordan had said there shouldn't be any argument about Arenas's all-star credentials. "It would be ludicrous if he wasn't" on the team, Jordan said. "He's the fourth-leading scorer in the league. We were a playoff team last year, we're a playoff team as of the end of the voting this year. Why not?"

Arenas made his first all-star appearance in Denver last season, but his chances may have been hampered by the Wizards' sluggish start this season. The fifth-year guard still has a chance to make the team if Commissioner David Stern decides to pick Arenas as an injury replacement for Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, who is out with a left groin injury.

Arenas faced stiff competition in Detroit's Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Milwaukee's Michael Redd.

"How will he react?" Jordan said before last night's game against Golden State to the possibility that Arenas doesn't make the team. "Will he be focused to lead this team the right way to as many victories as we can get? Will he sulk for three weeks? My belief is that he'll be a focused assassin. A focused basketball player to get the job done and lead this team to a good playoff position. We'll see."