LeBron chooses Durant first; Giannis takes Curry
The Los Angeles Lakers might not have traded for Anthony Davis prior to Thursday’s deadline, but Lakers star LeBron James made sure that Davis will be playing on his team next week in the NBA All-Star Game.
James selected Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans star, in the All-Star draft on Thursday night. He took Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant with his first selection. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo — the captain of the team opposing James’ side — selected Golden State guard Stephen Curry with his first pick.
James also selected Boston’s Kyrie Irving, Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard and Houston’s James Harden, respectively, from among the starters.
Antetokounmpo selected Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Oklahoma City’s Paul George and Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, respectively, among the pool of starters.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo assembled their rosters for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, a night capped by a Ben Simmons-for-Russell Westbrook trade.
James and Antetokounmpo drafted the rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. They made their selections without regard for a players’ conference affiliation or position. James had the first pick as he had the highest voting total in the league.
Eight starters were drafted in the first round.
Fourteen reserves were taken in the second round.
James’ selection of Davis is sure to garner attention as the Lakers offered the New Orleans Pelicans trade packages in an attempt to acquire Davis in the days leading up to Thursday’s deadline. Davis has told New Orleans that he doesn’t wish to sign an extension with the club.
Antetokounmpo playfully suggested during the draft — which was televised by TNT — that James was tampering after he selected Davis.
James selected Davis with his first pick in the second round. He also drafted Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Washington’s Bradley Beal. Beal was selected last.
Antetokounmpo selected teammate Khris Middleton in the second round. He had the first pick in the round. He also drafted Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Detroit’s Blake Griffin, Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell, Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry.
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade were named by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as special team roster additions for the All-Star Game. Wade and Nowitzki were drafted in the third and final round.
James, selecting first in the third round, selected Wade, his close friend. That left Nowitzki for Antetokounmpo’s team.
The draft was shown on TNT on Thursday night after being taped earlier. The process was not televised last year — the first iteration of the current format — to the dismay of James and other players.
All-Star reserves were selected by the coaches. Starters were named through a process combining fan votes (50 percent), media votes (25 percent) and player votes (25 percent).
The All-Star Game is in Charlotte on Feb. 17.
Denver coach Michael Malone and the Nuggets’ staff will coach Team LeBron. Mike Budenholzer and the Milwaukee Bucks‘ staff will coach Team Giannis in Charlotte.