The NBA announced the starters for the upcoming All-Star Game in San Francisco on Thursday night. Several old hands are in the game, while Victor Wembanyama misses the cut.
The following players will be in the starting five at the All-Star Game on February 16 (2 a.m. on February 17 in Germany) at the Chase Center:
Eastern Conference:
Jaylen Brunson, New York Knicks
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
When it came to the voting, the fans’ votes counted for 50 percent, while the current players and selected NBA journalists each had 25 percent of the votes.
All-Star Game Starter: Victor Wembanyama narrowly misses out on the award
In the West, Wembanyama finished fourth in the frontcourt, while Luka Doncic received the second-most votes among the guards. In the East, Paolo Banchero finished fourth, while the injured Franz Wagner still received the seventh-most votes. Among the guards, LaMelo Ball, who finished first among the fans, was followed by Brunson and Mitchell.
For LeBron James, this is now the 21st nomination for an All-Star Game, further extending his record. Kevin Durant (15) and Stephen Curry (11) have also been there many times.
The reserves for the All-Star Game will be announced in a week’s time, with seven players from each conference. These will include two guards, three frontcourt players and two wildcard players who do not have to play a specific position.
This year, the All-Star Game will take place in a new format for the first time. Instead of the usual “normal” game, there will be a mini-tournament with four teams. These will meet in two semi-finals and the respective winners will face each other in the final. Here is a detailed explanation of the new format.
