LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were named the NBA All-Star Game captains as the league revealed the events starters on Thursday.
James (West, Los Angeles Lakers) and Antetokounmpo (East, Milwaukee Bucks) received the most fan votes in their respective conferences to earn the selection as captains.
It’s James’s sixth consecutive year as a captain since the NBA implemented an All-Star Game draft in 2018. For Antetokounmpo, it’s his third time.
This year, the captains will select their teams in a playground-style draft live on television just prior to tip-off on Feb. 19 in Salt Lake City.
Joining James and Antetokoumpo as starters are: Luka Doncic (West, Dallas Mavericks), Nikola Jokic (West, Denver Nuggets), Zion Williamson (West, New Orleans Pelicans), Stephen Curry (West, Golden State Warriors), Jayson Tatum (East, Boston Celtics), Kevin Durant (East, Brooklyn Nets), Kyrie Irving (East, Brooklyn Nets) and Donovan Mitchell (East, Cleveland Cavaliers).
The starters include the top three frontcourt players and top two guards in each conference. Fan voting counted for 50 per cent of the starters’ balloting, while media and player ballots counted for 25 per cent each.
The remaining players — chosen by NBA coaches, seven players from each conference — will be revealed Feb. 2.
