LeBron and Antetokounmpo head All-Star starters, sensation Doncic makes it
>> NEW YORK: LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo headline a star-studded group of starters for the 2020 NBA All-Star game that also includes second year European sensation Luka Doncic.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar James will captain the Western Conference team for the second consecutive season and Milwaukee Bucks reigning league MVP Antetokounmpo will once again take charge of the Eastern Conference side.
James and Antetokounmpo have the honour of choosing the sides for their respective conferences because they are the top two vote-getters.
The two captains select the rosters for their own teams on Feb 6 from the pool of available players — regardless of conference — for the Feb 16 showcase in Chicago.
The polls closed with fan ballots counting for 50 percent, current NBA players having 25 percent say and a media panel having the other 25 percent say in selecting the 10 starters — two guards and three forwards from each conference.
Doncic is the fresh face in the starters list this season as the Slovenian standout joins Houston Rockets star James Harden in the West backcourt. Los Angeles Clippers forward and 2019 finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Lakers forward Anthony Davis fill out the frontcourt.
“I remember all the years I would wake up in Europe at 3am to watch the game and now I can be in it,” said Doncic. “I just have to keep working and getting better.”
Like Doncic, Atlanta Hawks Trae Young is a rising second-year star, who secured his first all-star selection. Young will be joined in the East backcourt by Boston Celtics Kemba Walker.
Antetokounmpo will be flanked by Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid and Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam in the East frontcourt.
James held off a charge from Doncic as the top vote-getter by fans in the West. James got 6.27 million fan votes while Doncic had 6.11 million. Antetokounmpo had 5.90 million fan votes.