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Tim good morningESPN
Los Angeles Lakers striker LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets striker Kevin Durant were named the captains of next month’s NBA star game Thursday night.
James and Durant will choose their respective teams from the remaining 22 All-Stars on March 4 after getting the highest number of votes from any player in either conference. The All-Star Game, which the NBA officially announced Thursday would take place this season, will be played on March 7 in Atlanta.
The players who joined the front court of both conferences went as expected, Durant was joined by Milwaukee Bucks striker Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center-back Joel Embiid in the starting pool for in the East, while James teamed up with LA Clippers striker Kawhi Leonard and Denver. The Nikola Jokic Nuggets Center in the West.
Subsequent routes, however, were more controversial.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was one of the starters in the West, while Dallas Mavericks goalie Luka Doncic tied Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Doncic finished second in the fan vote, but finished third, behind Lillard, in both media and player votes. That said, Doncic ended up being the option to start because the fan vote – which accounted for 50% of the vote, with players and the media 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 a starting spot after leaving the controversial team last year. It was his first nod. The other starting spot was Nets star Kyrie Irving when he joined teammate Durant.
Lakers striker Anthony Davis and Clippers striker Paul George finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the West Front track vote, while Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell went finish fourth among the Western Guards.
In the East, Boston Celtics striker Jayson Tatum and Miami Heat striker Jimmy Butler finished fourth and fifth in front-row voting, respectively, while Durant and Irving’s teammate, James Harden, was third, Chicago Bulls goalie Zach LaVine finished fourth and Celtics goalie Jaylen Brown. he finished second in the media vote – he finished fifth.
The remaining 14 All-Star spots will be determined by the coaches of the two conferences. The next few days will vote for seven from the East and West, and the results will be announced on TNT on Tuesday night.
James ’team in the All-Star Game will be led by Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who earned the honor with a win Monday over the 76ers. Meanwhile, 76ers coach Doc Rivers will manage to coach the other team if the Sixers win one of their next two games or the Bucks and Nets lose again this week.