Giannis Antetokounmpo has just finished a game in Memphis on Thursday night and was being asked about teammate LeBron James at today’s All-Star Game.
Antetokounmpo answered affirmatively when asked if he wanted to know the rest of Team LeBron’s starting lineup. He was told it was Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry.
“Those are the five starters? Yeah, it’s over, guys, ”said Antetokounmpo. “Me, LeBron, Luka, Jokic and Steph? Man, that’s a good bump. ”
That powerhouse starter unit will look to help James improve to 4-0 as an All-Star Game captain when the match against Team Durant takes place today in Atlanta.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time reigning league MVP of the Milwaukee Bucks, and James, a four-time MVP, will play together for the first time since the 2017 demonstration, when the 22-year-old Greek player scored 30 points on shot 14-of-17 while playing in his first All-Star Game.
Antetokounmpo is eager for the second occasion of playing with the Los Angeles Lakers star.
“He just makes plays,” Antetokounmpo said of James. “Most of the time you’re almost open, and I’ve never gotten used to that with someone else creating the comment and me being open all the time. So, I have to do my job, make the right play, too, and do what I always do: Just play hard and hopefully I can help it win. “
Of course, having a backcourt of Curry (Golden State Warriors), Doncic (Dallas Mavericks) as well as pass-happy big man Jokic (Denver Nuggets) should provide many opportunities for Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.3 points in four All- Star appearances.
Adding to the star power, Team LeBron also has an MVP candidate in Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard coming off the bench.
Kevin Durant’s roster is not as powerful but has a familiar ring to him with the selection of fellow Nets players, Kyrie Irving (starter) and James Harden (reserve).
Durant (hamstring) sits out the fight with a hamstring injury. Jayson replaced Tatum from the Boston Celtics Durant as a starter and is also on Team Durant. Other starters are Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) and NBA scoring leader Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.
Leonard was MVP of last season’s game when he made eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points.
Durant said ahead of Wednesday’s draft (televised Thursday by TNT) that he was not prepared for it and was making decisions based on his feeling about skills and competitiveness. He got the first pick of the backup pool and passed over Lillard.
“That is, this is a pretty obvious choice,” Durant said in announcing the choice. “He plays for the Brooklyn Nets – I’m going to go with James Harden.”
The Irving / Harden duo certainly gives Team Durant a high-scoring tone, which can also bring elite scorers Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls) and Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz) off the bench. The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker was to be part of Team Durant as well, but a sore knee caused him to be replaced on Friday’s squad by Jazz’s Mike Conley.
Embiid is mentioned in the MVP chatter, and he is looking forward to the fight.
“I can never take those occasions for granted,” Embiid told reporters. “It’s a great feeling to be part of the world’s best players. I’m looking to get out there, stay safe – first thing – and have fun in the best game in basketball. ”
Embiid coach with the 76ers, Doc Rivers, will lead Team Durant. Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder will guide Team LeBron.
There is an ironic twist to the Snyder James coaching team after James announced that Utah stars Mitchell, Rudy Gobert (Team James) were the last two choices because: “You have to understand, just like in video games growing to up, that we never played with Utah. ”
James explained his rationale for forming a team.
“I’m trying to pick players who can complement each other,” said James. “When we are on the floor, we try to play the game the right way. It’s an All-Star Game, so there will be some shenanigans out there. But for the majority of the game, we’re going to try to play the right way and come out with a win. ”
The contest will use the Elam format for the second straight season. The game will be over once a team reaches the target score, which will be 24 points more than the leading team has after three quarters. The 24 were chosen to honor the late Kobe Bryant.
All-Star weekend has been condensed because of the coronavirus pandemic, so the Slam Dunk competition will be held at half-time. The Skills Challenge and 3 Point Competition will take place before the game.
This is the third time the All-Star Game has been held in Atlanta (1978, 2003).
—Field Media Media