By Adrian Stewart Co
Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to team up with LeBron James, while Kevin Durant made Brooklyn Nets teammate Kyrie Irving as his top pick in the 2021 NBA All-Star Games.
Los Angeles Lakers forward James has made Milwaukee Bucks star Antetokoumpo as his top pick during the All-Star draft on Thursday (Friday in the Philippines), while injured Durant picked Irving to lead Team Kevin.
James also selected Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić to complete his starting lineup.
Durant’s starters, on the other hand, are led by Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal, and Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum.
Lebron also beefed up his reserved with Portland Trailblazers’ Damian Lillard, 76ers’ Ben Simmons, Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul, Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Clippers’ Paul George, Indiana Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis, and Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert.
Durant, meanwhile, drafted his Nets teammate James Harden to lead the reserves along with Suns’ Devin Booker, New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson, Chicago Bulls’ Zach Lavine, New York Knicks’ Julius Randle, Orlando Magic’s Nikola Vucevic, and Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell.
The Team Lebron against Team Kevin All-Star exhibition match as well as the skills challenge, three-point shootout and slam dunk competition are set to be played on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Meanwhile, Washington Wizards clawed its way back from 16-points down to score a 119-117 escape over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Capital One Arena in Washington, District of Columbia on Thursday.
Bradley Beal led the way with 33 points, Russell Westbrook flirted with triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Wizards. Leonard tallied 22 points for the Clippers.
In other results, Boston Celtics edged Toronto Raptors, 132-125; New York Knicks tripped Detroit Pistons, 114-104; Milwaukee Bucks escaped Memphis Grizzlies 112-111; and Denver Nuggets clipped Indiana Pacers, 113-103./ASC, WDJ