Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has been ruled out of the All-Star game as he continues to battle with a hamstring injury.
A number of hamstring problems have forced the 33-year-old to miss a total of 16 games for the Heat this season, and he will sit out Wednesday's meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers due to his latest setback, which has kept him out of action since the last week of January.
"The Heat fans deserve for me to get on the court with the Heat first than be out seven games and then play in the All-Star Game," Wade told reporters. "I wasn't going to play much either way it goes. The smartest thing to do will be to use this All-Star break and strengthen myself a little more for the second-half push."
Wade's decision to pull out of Sunday's game in New York will offer an opportunity to another Eastern Conference player, with the likes of Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Knight and Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver in contention to replace the veteran, who was selected as a reserve by supporters.
Callum Mulvihill
