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Tim BontempsESPN
Los Angeles Lakers striker LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets striker Kevin Durant were named captains of next month’s NBA All-Star Game on Thursday night.
James and Durant will choose their respective teams from the remaining 22 All-Stars on March 4, after obtaining the majority of votes from any player in any conference. The All-Star Game – which the NBA officially announced the previous Thursday that would happen this season – will be played on March 7 in Atlanta.
The players who joined them on the attack court of both conferences ran as expected, with Durant being accompanied by Milwaukee Bucks striker Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting group of the East, while James joined the striker from LA Clippers Kawhi Leonard and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the west.
The backcourts, however, were more contentious.
Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, started in the West, while Luka Doncic, of the Dallas Mavericks, drew with Damian Lillard, of the Portland Trail Blazers. Doncic finished second in the fan vote, but was third – behind Lillard – in media and player voting. That said, Doncic ended up being the choice to start because the fan vote – which accounted for 50% of the vote, with players and the media receiving 25% each – was the tiebreaker.
In the East, Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, the NBA’s top scorer with 32.8 points per game, got an opening spot after being controversially left out of the team last year. It was his first nod. The other starting point was for Nets star Kyrie Irving, who joined his teammate Durant.
Lakers striker Anthony Davis and Clippers striker Paul George finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the west court vote, while Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell finished fourth among the west guards.
In the East, Boston Celtics striker Jayson Tatum and Miami Heat striker Jimmy Butler finished fourth and fifth in the ballot, respectively, while Durant and Irving’s teammate James Harden were third, the playmaker. Chicago Bulls Zach LaVine finished fourth and Celtics guard Jaylen Brown – who finished second in the media vote – came in fifth.
The remaining 14 All-Star slots will be determined by coaches from both conferences. They will vote for seven each from the East and West in the coming days, with the results to be announced at TNT on Tuesday night.
James’ team in the All-Star Game will be led by Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who won the honor with a victory on Monday over the 76ers. Meanwhile, 76ers coach Doc Rivers will be able to coach the other team if the Sixers win one of their next two games or the Bucks and Nets lose again this week.