The rosters are set for Sunday's All-Star game in Atlanta, Georgia. With LeBron James and Kevin Durant serving as team captains for each of their respective conferences, the two forwards announced their picks live Thursday night on a special edition of TNT's “Inside the NBA.”
Team LeBron or Team Durant?
Who you got in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game?
(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/M2sYLnlX8x
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 5, 2021
With James afforded the first pick in the “draft” thanks to his lead in the voting process, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar selected Giannis Antetokounmpo as he built a roster that is as well balanced as it is talented.
All told, besides the Greek Freak, Team LeBron will feature Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Damian Lillard, Ben Simmons, Chris Paul, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, Domantas Sabonis, and Rudy Gobert.
As for Durant, the Brooklyn Nets‘ offensive fulcrum opted to select his teammate Kyrie Irving with his first choice in a move that seemed to be about maintaining his relationship with his costar, rather than choosing the most talented player available.
In addition to fellow Brooklyn stars Irving and James Harden, Durant also opted for Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Zion Williamson, Zach LaVine, Julius Randle, Nikola Vucevic, and Donovan Mitchell.
While Team LeBron may have a slight advantage talent-wise, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Team Durant take home the victory Sunday night, thanks to the squad's heavy emphasis on offense. Because the NBA exhibition is famous–or infamous, depending on who you are talking to–for its lack of defense, Durant's squad may find they have an advantage thanks to an abundance of players who enjoy scoring the rock.
Then again, it wouldn't be surprising to see Paul and Gobert screaming at their teammates to tighten their rotations on switches, given how intense both players tend to be. Either way, Sunday's NBA All-Star game should be anything but boring.
Follow Us
Subscribe