Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant named NBA All-Star Game captains

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant were named NBA All-Star captains next month on Thursday night.

James and Durant will choose their respective teams from the 22 remaining All-Stars by the time the All-Star Game – which the NBA officially announced earlier on Thursday will take place on March 7 in Atlanta – after garnering the most votes of all. players. in either conference.

Players joining them in the frontcourt of the two conferences went exactly as planned, Durant being joined by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting pool for the East, while James was joined by LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the West.

The backcourts, however, were more controversial. Golden State Warriors goalie Stephen Curry was a starter in the West, while Dallas Mavericks goaltender Luka Doncic equaled Portland Trail Blazers goaltender Damian Lillard. Doncic was second in the fan vote, but was third – behind Lillard – in the media and player vote. That said, Doncic ended up being the choice to start because the fan vote – which accounted for 50% of the vote, with players and media each getting 25% – was the tiebreaker.

In the East, Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, the NBA’s top scorer with 32.8 points per game, secured a starting spot after being controversial off the team last year. It was his first nod. The other starting point went to Nets star Kyrie Irving, as he joined teammate Durant.

Lakers forward Anthony Davis and Clippers forward Paul George were fourth and fifth, respectively, in the West Frontcourt voting, while Utah Jazz goaltender Donovan Mitchell was fourth among Guardsmen. the west. In the East, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler were fourth and fifth in the frontcourt vote, while Durant and Irving teammate James Harden was third, the Chicago Bulls goalie Zach LaVine was fourth and Celtics goalie Jaylen Brown – who was second. in the media vote – landed fifth.

The remaining 14 All-Star spots will be determined by the coaches of both conferences. They will vote for seven each from East and West over the next few days, with the results to be announced on 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 coach the other team if the Sixers win one of their next two games or if the Bucks and Nets lose again this week.