A Youth Movement Will Be on Display

Minus five of the 24 members of the original cast, including most of the top centers, the NBA stages its annual All-Star game today, hoping the kids pull it through.

Missing are Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning, all of whom missed games because of injuries last week.

That leaves Hakeem Olajuwon for the West and Dikembe Mutombo for the East, backed up by forwards.

Also scratched by injury are the elderly Rockets, Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler.

“You’ve got guys missing,” said Magic Johnson, here as part of the NBA’s tribute to its top 50 players, “but Michael [Jordan] is still here.

“There’s still some great open-court players. In an all-star game, you’ve got to let guys do their thing in the open court. In the last few years, the tempo was too slow. You’ve got to get the tempo up so Michael can do his thing.”

Better watch closely because this could be Jordan’s last all-star appearance. He’s about to turn 34 and he’s on a one-year contract, although he has said recently he’d like to return next season.

“It is somewhat a changing of the guard,” Jordan said. “It’s going to be different. Many of the players here never have been in these surroundings. I’m pretty sure they’ll be nervous and excited.

“It’s ironic that I’ve been here to see the change. To some extent it’s sad, but in some sense it’s a necessity and it’s good to see.”

The game will feature several first-time all-stars, notably 20-year 7-month-old Kevin Garnett, a substitute pick who just misses becoming the game’s youngest participant (Johnson was the youngest, at 20 years, 5 months in 1980), Christian Laettner, Chris Webber and Chris Gatling.

“Webber can go up and down the court,” said Grant Hill, laughing. “Patrick’s old, he can’t do it that much.

“Whether we are going to step in and take advantage of the opportunity remains to be seen, but what better chance to do it than now in this game?”

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WESTERN CONFERENCE ROSTER

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Player Pos. Team Pts. Reb. Ast. xz-Charles Barkley F Houston 19.5 14.7 4.9 z-Clyde Drexler G Houston 18.1 5.8 5.7 y-Kevin Garnett F Minnesota 16.5 8.1 2.7 y-Chris Gatling F Dallas 19.0 7.7 0.5 Tom Gugliotta F Minnesota 22.4 9.0 3.7 Eddie Jones G Lakers 16.3 3.9 3.4 x-Shawn Kemp F Seattle 21.3 11.0 1.7 *Karl Malone F Utah 26.5 10.9 4.6 x-Hakeem Olajuwon C Houston 24.3 9.2 2.9 z-Shaquille O’Neal C Lakers 26.2 13.0 3.2 x-Gary Payton G Seattle 22.2 4.3 7.2 Mitch Richmond G Sacramento 25.7 4.3 4.1 y-Detlef Schrempf F Seattle 17.0 6.8 4.8 Latrell Sprewell G Golden State 25.7 4.8 6.2 x-John Stockton G Utah 14.1 2.6 10.4

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EASTERN CONFERENCE ROSTER

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Player Pos. Team Pts. Reb. Ast. Vin Baker F Milwaukee 22.0 10.7 2.6 Terrell Brandon G Cleveland 20.3 3.9 6.2 xz-Patrick Ewing C New York 21.4 10.7 1.9 y-Joe Dumars G Detroit 14.2 2.6 3.9 x-Penny Hardaway G Orlando 20.0 5.0 5.7 Tim Hardaway G Miami 19.2 3.5 8.2 x-Grant Hill F Detroit 21.3 8.6 6.8 x-Michael Jordan G Chicago 30.8 5.7 3.9 Christian Laettner F Atlanta 18.7 9.0 2.3 z-Alonzo Mourning C Miami 19.5 10.2 1.6 * Dikembe Mutombo C Atlanta 12.8 12.0 1.4 x-Scottie Pippen F Chicago 19.4 6.5 5.7 Glen Rice F Charlotte 25.0 4.2 2.1 y-Chris Webber F Washington 19.8 9.8 4.7

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x-starter; y-injury replacement; z-will not play because of injury.

*-Replacement starter