As 19-time All-Star, James equals record
LeBron James is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA career scoring record. And now, he has caught Abdul-Jabbar on another page of the All-Star record book.
James was announced Thursday as an NBA All-Star for the 19th time, the Los Angeles Lakers' star tying Abdul-Jabbar for the most selections in league history. James — the leading overall vote-getter — will be the captain of one of the teams for the Feb. 19 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, while Eastern Conference voting leader Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will captain the other side.
This is the sixth year the NBA has used the captain format for the All-Star Game; James has been a captain every time and has never lost, taking a 5-0 record into this year.
Antetokounmpo is a captain for the third time, after also earning that right in 2019 and 2020.
James and Antetokounmpo will pick their teams shortly before the game in Salt Lake City, a newly announced twist and a departure from past years in which the captains picked a week or two in advance of AllStar weekend.
The other eight starters they'll be choosing from, barring any changes because of injury beforehand, are: Denver's two-time reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic of Dallas, the Warriors' Stephen Curry, Boston's Jayson Tatum, Brooklyn teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell and New Orleans' Zion Williamson.
The big intrigue was the third East frontcourt spot, where Philadelphia's Joel Embiid was the odd man out after Antetokounmpo, Durant and Tatum were the top three in the balloting.
The reserves, who are chosen by votes from the league's coaches, will be announced Feb. 2. Among the players certain to merit strong consideration: Portland's Damian Lillard, Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Boston's Jaylen Brown and Miami's Bam Adebayo.
Pistons 130, Nets 122: Saddiq Bey scored 25 points and Detroit won in Brooklyn for the first time in nearly five years.
Hornets 111, Bulls 96: Terry Rozier scored 28 points, Mason Plumlee added 21 points and 12 rebounds and host Charlotte defeated Chicago.
Cavaliers 113, Rockets 95: Darius Garland scored 26 points and Evan Mobley added 21 as visiting Cleveland won easily.
Knicks 120, Celtics 117: Jalen Brunson made a key block in the extra period to help lead New York past host Boston.