Indianapolis, IN – LeBron James made history by becoming the first player to be named to 20 All-Star teams on Thursday night. The announcement came as the league unveiled the 10 starters for next month’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
The Western Conference starting five, led by James, included Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On the other hand, the Eastern Conference starting five featured Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Bucks guard Damian Lillard.
This will be Haliburton’s second All-Star selection and first start, representing the host Pacers. Meanwhile, it will be the 14th All-Star appearance for Durant, eighth for both Antetokounmpo and Lillard, seventh for Embiid, sixth for Jokic, and fifth for Doncic and Tatum.
The voting in both conferences saw little drama, with clear leaders emerging early on. However, some positions, such as the second guard spot in the East and the three guard spots in the West, witnessed intense competition right until the end. Ultimately, media and player voting confirmed the starting lineups, with some players narrowly edging out their competitors.
While the starters have been determined, the selection of the coaches for both teams is still up in the air. The standings on Feb. 4 will determine who will be on the sidelines. Last year’s selections are ineligible this year, leaving the decision wide open. The traditional East versus West format will make a return this year, after the NBA scrapped the captains structure that had been in place.
The reserve selections from each conference will be voted on by the NBA’s head coaches and announced on TNT on Feb. 1. With the stage set for the much-anticipated All-Star Game on Feb. 18, fans and players alike eagerly await the announcement of the reserves, along with the final outcome of the exciting and eventful game.
