Picking the starters for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game
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LeBron James may tie Kobe Bryant on another list Thursday, this time for most NBA All-Star Game starts.
The Lakers forward already has the record for most consecutive All-Star starts with 14. He can tie Bryant as the all-time leader if he is voted in as a starter for this year’s game on Feb. 17 in Charlotte.
In the third fan-voting results released last week, James had more votes than any player, but fans still had a few days to cast their ballots (voting ended Monday). Plus, votes from players and selected media had not been counted.
Will James, who hasn’t played since Christmas due to a groin injury, get enough love from players and media and start in his 15th All-Star Game? Should he be an All-Star given the number of games he has missed?
Fans account for 50 percent of the vote, players 25 percent and media 25 percent. The All-Star starters will be announced Thursday on TNT. The reserves, picked by the coaches, will be announced Jan. 31 on TNT.
Paste BN NBA reporters Martin Rogers and Jeff Zillgitt select who they think should be All-Star starters this season:
East frontcourt
Rogers: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid
Zillgitt: Antetokounmpo, Leonard, Embiid
This is one of the easiest group of starters to pick. It’s pretty straightforward. Antetokounmpo, Leonard and Embiid are all legitimate MVP candidates, and their teams are among the best in the conference.
East backcourt
Rogers: Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker
Zillgitt: Irving, Walker
Irving is a lock given his scoring (23.5 per game), assists (career-high 6.9 per game) and shooting percentages (50.1 percent from the field, 41.3 percent on 3-pointers). The second guard spot isn’t as easy, but Walker is carrying the load for Charlotte and the game is at his home arena. Ben Simmons is right there, and the fans had Irving-Dwyane Wade 1-2 in their previous round of voting results. Will players and media also give Wade, who is in his final season, some All-Star love? It wouldn’t be surprising if players did, considering their appreciation of Wade and his contributions to the game.
West frontcourt
Rogers: Paul George, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic
Zillgitt: Durant, James, Anthony Davis
This one comes down to a matter of taste. Rogers dings James for games missed and appreciates Jokic’s elite passing and what he’s doing for second-place Denver. Zillgitt isn’t penalizing James for games missed (it’s only two fewer games played than Steph Curry and Leonard before Wednesday), and Davis’ overall production has kept New Orleans in the playoff hunt.
Fans were showing Dallas rookie Luka Doncic some love, but it’s unlikely he receives enough votes from players and media to make him a rare rookie All-Star starter.
West backcourt
Rogers: Curry, James Harden
Zillgitt: Curry, Harden
Easiest starters to pick, without question. Harden and Curry are among the league leaders in points per game and 3-pointers made per game, and both are in the MVP discussion. Fans still have appreciation for Derrick Rose, who was No. 2 in the third return of fan voting. Players love Rose, and he may get some votes. But it’s unlikely he gets the votes from media to make him a starter.
Follow Paste BN Sports' Jeff Zillgitt and Martin Rogers on Twitter.