Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks lead a star-studded list of superstars selected as starters for the 2023 NBA’s All-Star Game, which will be held in Salt Lake City for the first time since 1993.
James and Giannis were voted as the captains of their respective conferences —West and East— as a result of the most votes during the voting process.
James, who is chasing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, has tied one of the Lakers legend’s records. His 19th All-Star selection makes him the player with the joint-most selections in league history.
However, if he plays in the game, he will become the first player in NBA history to actually appear in 19 All-Star games due to Abdul-Jabbar’s withdrawal from the 1973 game.
The #NBAAllStar Western Conference Starters:
⭐️ LeBron James
⭐️ Nikola Jokic
⭐️ Luka Doncic
⭐️ Zion Williamson
⭐️ Steph Curry pic.twitter.com/3m6IER1Og1— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 27, 2023
On the other hand, Antetokounmpo will be making just his seventh appearance at the all-star games since coming into the league a decade ago. He beat out competition from 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant for the position of Eastern Conference captain.
The #NBAAllStar Eastern Conference Starters:
⭐️ Giannis Antetokounmpo
⭐️ Kevin Durant
⭐️ Donovan Mitchell
⭐️ Jayson Tatum
⭐️ Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/B2UDisxSv2— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 27, 2023
Since the NBA began using the captain format for the All-Star games for the sixth year in a row, James has been voted as captain six times, while Giannis will be heading into the games as the East’s captain for the third time.
The rest of the roster for the games, which is selected by votes from coaches across the league, will be announced on Thursday, February 2.
Also, unlike other years where they pick their teams two weeks before the games, the team captains will make their picks live in a televised pregame broadcast shortly before the game commences.
Other starters for the 72nd All-Star game include regular faces like 2022 Finals MVP Stephen Curry, reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic, 2016 NBA champion Kyrie Irving, and 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Jason Tatum, while former No. 1 draft pick Zion Williamson is the surprise starter for the game.
The 2023 All-Star weekend will be held from February 17–19, with the Rising Stars game on the 17th, the Skills Challenge, 3-point contest, and Slam Dunk competitions on the 18th, and the All-Star game closing the event on the 19th.
FULL LIST OF STARTERS
Eastern Conference
C: Captain – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
F: Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
F: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
G: Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
G: Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
Western Conference
F: LeBron James – Captain (Los Angeles Lakers)
C: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
F: Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
G: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
G: Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
