Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Heat’s Adebayo, Butler selected by Antetokounmpo in All-Star draft
SACRAMENTO — Miami Heat teammates Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will also be teammates when the two take the court for the NBA All-Star Game Feb. 16 at Chicago’s United Center.
Adding to the intrigue is the two were selected in Thursday’s All-Star draft by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who stands as a potential Heat 2021 free-agency target.
Further adding to the intrigue is that Adebayo and Antetokounmpo share the same agent.
Butler and Adebayo were part of the secondary pool, after captains LeBron James and Antetokounmpo first drafted among the remaining eight players selected as starters in the fan-media-player balloting.
James and Antetokounmpo were named team captains by virtue of leading their respective conferences in All-Star voting.
Antetokounmpo had the first pick for the reserves, after James had first pick among the starters.
Adebayo was the third of the reserve selections, behind only Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard, with Butler the seventh reserve selected.
“You cannot go wrong. They’re the best 24 players in the world,” Antetokounmpo said. “They’re all great players, they’re all great guys.”
Team LeBron:
Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic and James Harden as James’ fellow starters, with his reserves of Lillard, Ben Simmons, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Domantas Sabonis.
Team Giannis:
Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Kemba Walker and Trae Young as Antetokounmpo’s fellow starters, with his reserves of Middleton, Adebayo, Rudy Gobert, Butler,
Kyle Lowry, Brandon Ingram and Donovan Mitchell.
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse will guide Team Giannis, with Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel to lead Team LeBron.
Team Giannis with Adebayo and Butler will wear the red Jordan Brand NBA AllStar 2020 uniforms, with Team LeBron wearing blue.
As previously announced, Team Giannis will wear No. 24 and Team LeBron will wear No. 2 — the basketball jersey numbers of the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, respectively. Both teams will wear jersey patches displaying nine stars, representing Kobe, Gianna and their seven friends and teammates killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game, choosing a player from the same conference as the player who is being replaced.