For the second year in a row, LeBron James was named a captain of the NBA All-Star Game, allowing the four-time MVP to pick his teammates among a group of players selected for the event by fans, media, and coaches.
Unlike last season, though, James is captaining the Western Conference squad after his summer move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mike Malone will coach Team LeBron after leading the Denver Nuggets, currently 37-16, to the best record in the Western Conference through Sunday. James and Malone even have a prior relationship, too, dating back to their time with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the mid-2000s.
Still, don't expect Malone to interfere with James' draft process. Well, except when it comes to one player in specific.
The #NBA All Star draft is tomorrow, and #Nuggets coach Michael Malone was asked if he will watch it or just trust LeBron James to draft a side team for him to coach. He chuckled: “I haven’t sent LeBron my suggestions. I just hope we get Nikola Jokic on our team.”
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) February 6, 2019
Jokic, of course, is the driving force behind what could be the best season in Nuggets history.
Article Continues BelowThe first-time All-Star is averaging 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field, but even those stellar numbers fail to accurately portray the impact he makes on a nightly basis.
What does? Denver, third in the league with a 113.6 offensive rating, scores 8.2 points per 100 possessions fewer with Jokic on the bench – by far the biggest discrepancy on the team. He's almost an offense unto himself.
Needless to say, it would be incredibly fun to watch Jokic play with James. Has LeBron ever stepped on the basketball court and not been the clear-cut best passer on his team?
It could happen come February 17th, as long as James honors Malone's wish by choosing the best passing big man ever to be on Team LeBron.