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Tim BontempsESPN
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant were named the captains for next month’s NBA All-Star Game on Thursday night.
James and Durant will pick their respective teams from the remaining 22 All-Stars between now and the All-Star Game, which the NBA officially announced earlier Thursday will take place on March 7 in Atlanta, after getting the most votes of any player in either conference.
The players joining them in the frontcourt from both conferences went exactly as expected, with 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 fellow Staples Center resident, LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the West.
The backcourts, however, were more contentious. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was one starter, while Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic tied Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Doncic finished second in fan voting, but third — behind Lillard — in both media and player voting. That said, Doncic wound up being the pick to start because fan voting — which made up 50% of the voting, with the players and media getting 25% each — was the tiebreaker in the event of a tie.
In the East, Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, the NBA’s leading scorer at 32.8 points per game, got one starting spot after being controversially left off the team last year. It was his first starting nod. The other starting spot went to Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, as he joined his teammate Durant.
Lakers forward Anthony Davis and Clippers forward Paul George finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the West frontcourt voting, while Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell finished fourth among West guards. In the East, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler finished fourth and fifth in frontcourt voting, while Durant and Irving’s teammate James Harden finished third and Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine finished fourth and Celtics guard Jaylen Brown — who finished second in media voting — landed fifth.
The remaining 14 All-Star spots will be determined by the coaches from both conferences, who will vote for seven each from the East and West over the next few days, with the results to be announced on TNT Tuesday night.
James’ team in the All-Star Game will be helmed by Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who clinched the honor with a win Monday over the 76ers. Meanwhile, 76ers coach Doc Rivers will clinch coaching the other if either the Sixers win one of their next two games or the Bucks and Nets lose again this week.