All-stars: Middleton will be part of Team Giannis again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is nothing if not loyal.
For the second straight year, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar selected teammate Khris Middleton to be part of Team Giannis for the NBA All-Star Game.
The selections were made during a TNT broadcast Thursday night. The game is Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago.
Antetokounmpo and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James were both named captains – for the second straight year – after being the top vote-getters in their respective conferences.
Antetokounmpo made his selections before the Bucks took on the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. The reigning NBA most valuable player appeared well-prepared for his general manager duties.
“I got everything right here,” Antetokounmpo said, brandishing a notebook.
The captains picked among the starters first. James got the first selection because he had the most votes. He chose Lakers teammate Anthony Davis.
Antetokounmpo countered with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
“I got to go with my African brother,” Antetokounmpo said.
Antetokounmpo also chose his “second African brother” Pascal Siakam, a native of Cameroon. Antetokounmpo also selected the Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker. The Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young fell to Team Giannis as the last pick of the starters.
Antetokounmpo had the first pick among the reserve players, so it was assumed he would pick Middleton, who is averaging a careerhigh 20.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. But Antetokounmpo built the drama up on the broadcast.
“I told him I was going to take him first last year but I didn’t this year,” Antetekounmpo said. “It’s all about winning for me.
“No, I’m joking. I’m going with Khris Middleton. He’s going to make a bunch of threes.”
Team Giannis
Starters: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors), Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics), Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
Reserves: Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Rudy Gobert (Utah
Jazz), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz).
Team LeBron
Starters: Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), James Harden (Houston Rockets)
Reserves: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder), Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers).