The NBA is taking its up to date All-Star format to the following degree.
The league and the NBPA introduced on Tuesday that captains will choose their groups from a pool of All-Stars in a pregame draft simply earlier than tipoff — identical to on the playground. The draft will happen at 7:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 19 at Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena. The sport is scheduled to tip at 8 p.m.
It appears like LeBron James and certain Giannis Antetokounmpo must look gamers within the eyes as they go unpicked late within the course of.
The pregame draft is an replace to the All-Star format the league adopted in 2018. Prior to that yr, the sport all the time pit Eastern Conference All-Stars towards Western Conference All-Stars. Starting in 2018, the best vote-getter in every convention was elected captain, and the captains then picked the groups. But they did so in a studio phase broadcast on TNT weeks earlier than the sport.
James has been a captain in every season of the brand new format. He’s additionally constructed a 5-0 document with the groups he is chosen. He was the overwhelming vote-getter within the Western Conference over Stephen Curry within the newest spherical of voting introduced on Jan. 19. Antetokounmpo, in the meantime, held a slight edge within the East over Kevin Durant, who’s been sidelined with a knee harm since Jan. 9.
Captains and starters as chosen by followers shall be introduced on Thursday.
James will face strain to pick out Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis if Davis is called an All-Str and wholesome sufficient to play. He’s been sidelined with a foot harm since Dec. 23. Meanwhile, no person likes to get picked final, particularly in entrance of a crowd.
This must be enjoyable and will present some in-game motivation for gamers recent off a late draft choice.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James might each be All-Star captains as soon as once more (Kyle Terada/Reuters)
