Kevin Durant To Replace Joe Johnson In Three-Point Shootout

The withdrawal of Atlanta Hawks SG Joe Johnson from All-Star Weekend due to knee tendinitis has opened up a spot in the Three-Point Shootout to Kevin Durant:

Rajon Rondo of @Celtics to replace injured Joe Johnson in the 2012 @NBAAllStar Game, Durant to replace JJ in Foot Locker Three Pt Contest

— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2012

It will be Durant's third consecutive appearance in the event, as he was part of the field that lost to Paul Pierce in 2010 and James Jones in 2011.

At 6'10 with a 7'5 wingspan, the Oklahoma City star has one of the most effortless strokes in the NBA and he's currently shooting a preposterous 51.2% from the field to go with a 37% percentage from beyond the arc.

This year, he'll be competing against Jones, Mario Chalmers, Kevin Love, Ryan Anderson and Anthony Morrow.

For the latest news and notes on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City.

Scott Brooks Named Head Coach For Western Conference All-Star Team

The Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks has been named the head coach for the Western Conference All-Star team in Orlando Feb. 26. The team that has the best record by Feb. 15 is named the coach, but coaches can not coach an All-Star game two years in a row. Brooks was named the head coach after theThunder defeated the Utah Jazz on Friday night. The closest competition for the head coaching job came from the Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs.

Brooks will get to coach two of his own players in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. This is the first time that Brooks has been the head coach of an NBA All-Star team and his counterpart in the Eastern Conference is likely to be the Chicago Bulls head coachTom Thibodeau.

2012 NBA All-Star Rosters: Thunder's Russell Westbrook Named To Western Conference Reserves

According to CBS Sports, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was named to the NBA All-Star Western Conference reserve team along with six other players.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant is one of the starters for the Western Conference team so Westbrook, who has averaged 22.3 per game through the 2011-2012 season, will be two Thunder players on the All-Star team.

For more on Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder, check out Welcome To Loud City, and for more on the NBA All-Star reserve rosters, visit SB Nation's stream.

2012 NBA All-Star Rosters: Russell Westbrook Hoping To Hear Name Called Thursday Night

The NBA is announcing the All-Star reserve teams tonight on TNT at 7 p.m. (ET) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook could be named to the team.