NBA All Star Rosters Announced
Bobby Willmot
Staff Writer
With the NBA All-Star Game approaching, the NBA has announced the All-Star Rosters for the Eastern and Western Conferences. The All-Star Game this year is Team Giannis versus Team LeBron and they will draft the teams courtside right before the game for the first time. Both captains have achieved a lot this season including LeBron beating the NBA scoring record becoming the number one scorer of all time, and Antetokounmpo, who has averaged 32 points and 12 rebounds, leading his Milwaukee Bucks in a fight for first in the Eastern Conference standings. Giannis’s Bucks teammate Jrue Holiday has also been elected to the game within the reserves. In contention for the Eastern Conference first includes the Boston Celtics who also have two players sent to the All-Star Game, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
They have both been the biggest reasons the Boston Celtics are having their current success within the Eastern Conference. Other players in the Eastern Conference that were selected include Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie’s former Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, DeMar DeRozan, Julius Randle, Tyrese Haliburton, and Bam Adebayo. With the All-Star rosters being selected before the NBA Trade Deadline, Irving and Durant will both still be considered Eastern Conference All-Star starters despite being traded to the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, respectively. Despite all of these players deserving their selection, fans believe some snubs this year includes players such as Pascal Siakam, James Harden, and Jalen Brunson, as all of these players have had key roles with their teams.
The Western Conference All-Star roster players includes two time defending MVP Nikola Jokic who has led the Denver Nuggets to first place in the Western Conference. He’s joined by defending champion Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors. Curry is currently averaging over 29 points this season, with this marking his ninth All-Star selection. Other players selected as Western Conference starters include Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks and Zion Williamson from the New Orleans Pelicans. Players announced as Western Conference reserves include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is Shai’s first All-Star appearance in his career. Another first time all-star player s Lauri Markkannen, who has had a breakout season averaging over 24 points and nine rebounds for the Utah Jazz. The Memphis Grizzlies also had two of their starters announced as All-Stars including Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers will also be playing in the All-Star Game as he records his eighth All-Star appearance. Damian Lillard will also be playing in the All-Star Game from the Western Conference as he has averaged over 30 points a game this season. Rounding off the Western Conference includes Domantas Sabonis from the Sacramento Kings. Sabonis averages over 18 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists a game and has over six triple-doubles this season, third place for triple-doubles in the league this season.
All of these players will be drafted by LeBron and Giannis in a style we haven’t seen before within the All-Star Game. The draft will happen right before the game as if you are on a playground. Due to some injuries including Curry and Durant among others, some of the snubs from these initial rosters may find their way on to the roster such as De’Aaron Fox, Brunson, Harden, and more. No matter who represents both conferences when the game finally starts, it will be very entertaining to watch where all of these players will end up with Giannis and LeBron.
Contact Bobby at robert.willmot@shu.edu