So this day never ends. At some point, there’s also a thing called basketball to be played tonight by the Toronto Raptors? I haven’t heard of this sporting event, but it sounds like it could be fun. It’s coming up, but I suppose this is important too?
Let’s put the newsworthy stuff at the front: Kawhi Leonard went exactly in the middle of the starters, just in between Joel Embiid and Paul George. Kyle Lowry was a little less respected, going second-last, but ahead of Bradley Beal! Leonard will play with James, while Lowry will play with Antetokounmpo.
The game will take place on February 17 in Charlotte. There is a wild new format to the all-star game. Each conference has a captain, see, with LeBron James in the West and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East. After the pool of players was selected – the starters by fan vote, media, and players, and the reserves by the coaches – the captains were given the honour of choosing their own teams. Because James earned more votes, he picked first. The starters had to be chosen first, and then the teams could cycle onto the reserves. Apparently, that happened this morning. Then they waited until tonight to televise it.
Team James:
Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving
Kawhi Leonard
James Harden
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Damian Lillard
Ben Simmons
LaMarcus Aldridge
Karl-Anthony Towns
Bradley Beal
Dwyane Wade
Team Antetokounmpo:
Steph Curry
Joel Embiid
Paul George
Kemba Walker
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Khris Middleton
Nikola Jokic
Russell Westbrook
Blake Griffin
D’Angelo Russell
Nikola Vucevic
Kyle Lowry
Dirk Nowitzki
Here is a list of the players who comprised the all-star pools. First, the East:
Starters:
G: Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
G: Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
F: Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
C: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Reserves:
G: Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
G:D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
G: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
G: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
F: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
F: Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons
C: Nikola Vucevic
Legacy:
G: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Now, the West:
Starters:
G: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
G: James Harden, Houston Rockets
F: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
F: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
F: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Reserves:
G: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
G: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
G: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
F: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
F: LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
C: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
C: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Legacy:
F: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
So the draft order went Durant, Curry, Irving, Embiid, Kawhi, George, Harden, Walker. Then the reserves were Middleton, Davis, Jokic, Thompson, Simmons, Lillard, Griffin, Westbrook, Russell, Aldridge, Vucevic, Towns, Lowry, Beal. Then the legacy all-stars were picked Wade, Nowitzki.
(Simmons and Westbrook were traded for each other.)
