Nam Huh / Associated Press
The lives of NBA executives would be significantly easier if they only had to select players from a pre-selected All-Stars list, but the draft skills of LeBron James and Kevin Durant are put to the test during TNT. Within the NBA on Thursday.
James and Durant are the two captains of the NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta as the best voices and lined up their teams.
As the best votes, James scored the first overall pick of the first round, which was used to draft the eight other entrees. KD got the first pick of the second round, which was used to set up the reserves.
Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis has been named as the replacement for Durant, who raised Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the foyer. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns guard, has been named as the replacement for Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers.
Here’s a look at how the two captains lined up:
First round
- Choose 1 (LeBron): Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Choose 2 (KD): Kyrie Irving
- Choose 3 (LeBron): Stephen Curry
- Choose 4 (KD): Joel Embiid
- Choose 5 (LeBron): Luka Doncic
- Choose 6 (KD): Kawhi Leonard
- Choose 7 (LeBron): Nikola Jokic
- Choose 8 (KD): Bradley Beal / Jayson Tatum
Second round
- Choose 1 (KD): James Harden
- Choose 2 (LeBron): Damian Lillard
- Choose 3 (KD): Devin Booker
- Choose 4 (LeBron): Ben Simmons
- Choose 5 (KD): Zion Williamson
- Choose 6 (LeBron): Chris Paul
- Choose 7 (KD): Zach LaVine
- Choose 8 (LeBron): Jaylen Brown
- Choose 9 (KD): Julius Randle
- Choose 10 (LeBron): Paul George
- Choose 11 (KD): Nikola Vucevic
- Choose 12 (LeBron): Domantas Sabonis
- Choose 13 (KD): Donovan Mitchell
- Choose 14 (LeBron): Rudy Gobert
James wants to defend his All-Star crown after defeating Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team in a classic series in Chicago last year.
Team LeBron won 157-155 in a back-and-forth thriller that contained a lot of drama due to the Elam Ending. That finish of a match turns off the clock and sets a target score for the teams to reach, which is ideal for eliminating late pollution.
It will be in place in Atlanta again for Sunday’s game.
The match is about more than just the best players of the league boasting back and forth on the All-Star stage. It will also make black colleges and universities historically aware and respectful.
The NBAs release the game explains, “will emphasize the importance of HBCUs and raise awareness of the diverse impact of COVID-19 on color communities. In addition, All-Star will feature special performances from HBCU music groups and unique storytelling and content by leading alumni and students.”
Sunday is also a busy day of basketball outside of the game. The skill competition and three-point match take place during the preliminaries, while the dunk match takes place at half-time.