James, Antetokounmpo named AllStar captains

NEW YORK: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the team captains for the 2019 NBA AllStar Game after leading their respective conferences in voting.

Joining them as starters will be Golden State Warriors teammates Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard and Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker, who is the only firsttime starter among the 10.

The starters’ selections were a product of voting from the fans (50%), players (25%) and media (25%), with fan votes serving as the tiebreaker. George won a tiebreaker for the West’s third frontcourt starting spot over the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis, who finished third on the players’ and media’s ballots but fifth in the fan vote.

George was ranked fourth by the fans, players and media.

James, who has not played since Christmas Day while nursing a groin injury, and Antetokounmpo will pick their own teams on February 7 in a draft.

As the top votegetter among the fans (4.6 million), James will pick first, and the two will alternate picks until the other eight starters have been selected. Antetokounmpo (4.4 million) will have the first choice of the second round, when the captains pick players named to the AllStar Game as reserves.

The reserves — seven from each conference, selected by NBA head coaches — will be announced next Friday.

The AllStar Game will be held on February 17 in Charlotte, North Carolina. —Field Level Media