DeMarcus Cousins will replace an injured Kobe Bryant in 2015 All-Star Game

The NBA announced Kings center DeMarcus Cousins will be the injury replacement for Kobe Bryant in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.

Cousins was not one of the seven Western Conference reserves named Thursday, but a spot opened up because of Kobe Bryant -- who had been voted in as an All-Star starter by fans -- underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. All-Star injury replacements are decided by the commissioner and so it was Adam Silver's decision to put Cousins on the team.

Cousins was unanimously declared a snub when he was left out and it shouldn't have come down to an injury replacement. Other major snubs include Damian Lillard, Kyle Korver, Brandon Knight and Mike Conley.

This is Cousins' first All-Star appearance. He's averaging 23.8 points and 12.3 rebounds this year. Only five players in the last 20 years have averaged that (23 points, 12 rebounds) for a season.