Curry named AllStar starter for 7th time
For the seventh time in his career, Warriors guard Stephen Curry will start an AllStar Game.
Joining him as starters from Western Conference teams will be the Lakers’ LeBron James, the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic. Eastern Conference players voted to start were the Nets’ Kevin Durant, the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 76ers’ Joel Embiid, the Wizards’ Bradley Beal and the Nets’ Kyrie Irving.
James edged Curry in the fan vote to be named captain from players in the West, and Durant was selected as captain from players in the East. Among West guards, Curry ranked first in the fan, player and media votes.
Curry was an AllStar starter for six straight years before last season, when injuries limited him to five games. Entering Friday’s game against Orlando, Curry, 32, is averaging 30 points on 49.2% shooting (42.5% from 3point range), 6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 29 games.
His 869 points and 145 made 3pointers lead the NBA. Additionally, Curry ranks second in scoring per game and fifth in freethrow percentage (93.5%).
For the fifth consecutive year, NBA players and basketball media joined fans in selecting the AllStar Game starters. Fans comprised 50% of the vote, with players and a media panel accounting for 25% each.
James and Durant will select the rest of the rosters in the NBA AllStar Draft on March 4 on TNT. News of the game’s starters came only hours after the league officially announced that the showcase will be held March 7 in Atlanta.
The AllStar Game is typically the capper in a weekend of events, but activities will be compressed into a single night this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The skills challenge and 3point contest will take place before the game, and the slam dunk contest will be at halftime.