Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant were appointed captains for the Star game next month.
James and Durant will choose their respective teams from the 22 remaining All-Stars between now and the All-Star Game, which the NBA officially announced Thursday and will take place March 7 in Atlanta.
The players at the front of both conferences were exactly what was expected. Durant will be joined by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting group for the East, while James was joined by fellow resident Staples Center, LA forward. Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, to the west.
However, the defense zones were more controversial. Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry started, while Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic tied Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard. Doncic finished second in fan voting, but third, behind Lillard, both in the media and in player voting. That said, Doncic eventually became the one chosen to start because of the fan votes, who accounted for 50 percent of the vote.
To the east, the star of Washington Wizards, the NBA’s top scorer with 32.8 points per game, got a run after being controversially left from the team last year. It was his first nod. The other place on the grid went to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who joined teammate Durant.
Lakers forward Anthony Davis and Clippers forward Paul George finished fourth and fifth respectively in the Western forward, while Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell finished fourth among the Western guards. To the east, Boston Celtics striker Jayson Tatum and Miami Heat striker Jimmy Butler finished fourth and fifth in the front court voting, while Durant and Irving teammate James Harden came in third and shooting guard. Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine finished fourth and Celtics guard Jaylen Brown finished. second. in the media vote – he was fifth.
The remaining 14 spots for the All-Star Game will be determined by the coaches of both conferences, who will vote on seven votes from both East and West in the coming days, with the results announced on TNT on Tuesday evening.
James’ team in the All-Star Game is led by the Utah Jazz coach, Quin Snyder, who secured the honor with a win Monday over the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers coach, Doc Rivers, will ensure that the other is coached if the Sixers win one of their next two games or if the Bucks and Nets lose again this week.