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Tim BontempsESPN
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant were named captain of next month’s NBA All-Star Game on Thursday-evening.
James and Durant will choose their respective teams from the remaining 22 All-Stars on March 4 after receiving the most votes from any player in both conferences. The All-Star Game – which the NBA officially announced on Thursday that it would take place this season – will be played on March 7 in Atlanta.
The players who joined them in the frontcourt of both conferences went as expected, with Durant joined by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting pole for the east, while James was joined by LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the West.
However, the backcourts were more controversial.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was a starter in the West, while Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic tied Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Doncic finished second in the fan vote, but was third – behind Lillard – in both the media and player vote. That said, Doncic ended up being the best choice to start, as fan votes – who made up 50% of the vote, with players and media getting 25% each – was the tiebreaker.
To the east, Bradley Beal, the star of Washington Wizards, the NBA’s top scorer with 32.8 points per game, got one starting place after controversially retiring from the team last year. It was his first start nod. The other place to start went to 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 front court ballot, while Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell finished fourth among Western guards.
In the east, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler finished fourth and fifth respectively in the frontcourt voting, while Durant and Irving’s teammate James Harden came third, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine fourth and Celtics- security guard Jaylen Brown – who finished second in media voting – came in fifth.
The remaining 14 All-Star spots are determined by the coaches of both conferences. They will each vote for seven East and West votes over the next few days, and the results will be announced on TNT Tuesday evening.
James’s team in the All-Star Game is led by jazz coach Quin Snyder, who took the honors on Monday with a win over the 76ers. Meanwhile, 76ers coach Doc Rivers will coach the opposing team if the Sixers win one of their next two games or lose the Bucks and Nets again this week.