NBA announces All-Star Game starters; LeBron James earns 20th straight nod
LeBron James is in his 21st NBA season.
After All-Star voting results were revealed Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers star is now an All-Star for the 20th time, setting an NBA record and breaking the record he shared with fellow Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
His All-Star selection extends a record for consecutive All-Star selections to 20, and if he’s healthy and available, he will push his record for All-Star starts to 20.
For two decades, James has been a fixture in the NBA All-Star Game – the all-time leader in All-Star points (426), minutes (521), field goal attempts (345) and field goals made (178). He also has three All-Star Game MVPs.
The starters were determined by a vote from fans (50%), media (25%) and players (25%)
Here are the starters for the All-Star Game in Indianapolis Feb. 19 and who should be the starters:
Who are the East and West NBA All-Star starters?
Eastern conference
Backcourt
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (second All-Star): Haliburton leads the league in assists (12.6 per game) and is one of two players averaging a double-double in points (23.6) and assists. He’s also had two 20-point, 20-assist games.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (eighth All-Star): Helping the Bucks to the No. 2 offense, Lillard averages 25.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds and continues to come through in clutch situations – also known as Dame Time.
Frontcourt
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (eighth All-Star): Despite this week’s coaching change, the Bucks are 31-13 and Antetokounmpo is part of the MVP race at 31.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 60.5% from the field.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (seventh All-Star): Embiid leads the league in scoring (36.1 points per game) plus averages 11.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists and has the Sixers playing their best basketball of the Embiid era.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (fifth All-Star): The best player on the best team, Tatum (27 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game) is a two-way star headed an All-NBA selection and a massive contract extension in the offseason.
Western conference
Backcourt
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (fifth All-Star): No. 2 in scoring at 33.6 points per game, Doncic also has career-bests in 3-point shooting (37.3%) and assists (9.3 per game).
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (second All-Star): The blossoming MVP candidate is one of four players averaging at least 30 points, 5.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds this season
Frontcourt
Los Angeles Lakers guard LeBron James (20th All-Star): At 39, he’s posting stats that almost mirror his career averages: 24.8 points, 7.4 assists and 7.2 rebounds and shooting 52% from the field and 39.1% on 3s.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (14th All-Star): At 35, Durant remains one of the game’s best offensive players, averaging 29.1 points with efficiency – 52.9% shooting from the field, 45.5% on 3s and 87.3 on free throws.
Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (sixth All-Star): Jokic continues to do MVP things: 26.2 points, 12 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.1 steals per game and 59% shooting from the field.
Who should be the East and West starters? Was anyone snubbed?
Eastern conference
Backcourt
Haliburton
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey: The fourth-year pro is having his best season, averaging career-high in points (25.8), assists (6.7) and steals (1.0).
Frontcourt
Antetokounmpo
Embiid
Tatum
Western conference
Backcourt
Doncic
Gilgeous-Alexander
Frontcourt
Jokic
Durant
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard: As the Clippers climb in the standings, Leonard is quietly having a great season at 23.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 52.2% from the field, 44.3% on 3s and 87.9% on free throws.
— Zillgitt: Going with James and Lillard instead of Leonard and Maxey (or even the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson) doesn't equal outrage, and those three players who weren't voted in as starters likely will be voted in by the coaches who select the reserves. The All-Star reserves will be announced Feb. 1 on TNT.
