Love, Durant, Wall withdraw from Beasley All-Star Classic

Ticket prices dropped, charity go will go on

October 20, 2011 at 9:02PM
Kevin Love (right), Michael Beasley
Michael Beasley (8) and Kevin Love (42) (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

NBA stars Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, John Wall and Jeff Green all have withdrawn from Michael Beasley'si charity "All-Star Classic" Friday night at Osseo High.

Organizers are working to add another star name or two.

They've changed ticket prices from $60, $120 and $300 to $40 for general admission, $100 for VIP reserved and $300 for one of 35 courtside seats.

Beasley's Timberwolves teammate Wayne Ellington and Washington's Josh Howard have been added to the game.

Love confirmed by text today, "I will not be able to make it" but didn't say why.

The star players' withdrawals might have something to do with their commitments to a world barnstorming tour being organized by an Atlanta businessman.

Media outlets on Thursday reported that Love and Durant will join Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire and many others on a two-week, six-game tour that will take them to Puerto Rico, London, China and Australia starting late this month.

Visit the game site here for an updated roster later today.

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No tickets have been sold for the game yet and organizers say they'll make it clear who will play -- and who won't -- by the time tickets go on sale at Osseo High tomorrow at noon for the 7 p.m. game.

For now, the lineup looks like: Beasley, Ellington, Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Williams, Wes Johnson, DeAndre Jordan, Roy Hibbert, Sam Young, Earl Clark, Keith Bogans, Derrick Caracter, Donte Green, Nolan Smith, DaeQuan Cook, Vernon Macklin and Bobby Maze.

Organizers said no players are being paid to appear and said all proceeds after expenses will go to St. Jude's and three Twin Cities area charities.

One other thing:

NBA players and owners are back meeting in New York CIty for the three consecutive day. It sure looks like progress is being made -- slowly but surely, of course -- toward a new labor agreement as all the little issues are being worked out one by one before the big one -- a more restrictive luxury tax -- is hammered out.

Wolves owner Glen Taylor, btw, was re-elected as the NBA's Board of Governors chairman today at league meetings that are being held in between negotiating sessions.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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