The NBA has just announced the schedule for the 2019 All-Star Draft:
For the second straight year, the league has decided not to do the traditional East vs. West format. Instead, it will give the two players who got the highest number of fan votes the opportunity to select their teammates for the annual All-Star Game.
The draft, which wasn't televised last year, is set to be televised by TNT on Feb. 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Based on the most recent results of the balloting, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely be the captains of the opposing teams. Last year, it was James and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.
The final list of players who will be eligible for the All-Star Game will be announced once the players, coaches, and media personnel have also given their votes. Together, they will comprise 50 percent of the players' total score, while the remaining 50 percent will be coming from the fan votes.
James is primed to become the highest vote-getter once again, while Antetokounmpo is kind of a surprise. It will be interesting to see how they will form their respective All-Star squads should they end up as the captains.
Will Dwyane Wade become an All-Star for the last time? Will rookie Luka Doncic make the All-Star team? Will Ben Simmons make history by becoming the first ever Australian-born All-Star? Will Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook end up on the same team? These are some of the questions that will be answered during the 2019 All-Star Draft.