The starting teams for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in just under a month were released today, following the tally between the fans, media, and player vote.
2020 East All-Star starters:
Atlanta’s Trae Young
Boston’s Kemba Walker
Toronto's Pascal Siakam
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (captain)
Philadlephia’s Joel Embiid— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 24, 2020
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the captain for the Eastern Conference once again, due to being the highest vote-getter in his conference. This means Antetokounmpo will be able to fill out his team with the selected reserves to be released later, regardless of their conference. Last year, his team wound up losing to Team LeBron 178-164.
Pascal Siakam received his first All-Star berth, after taking home the 2018-19 Most Improved Player award. Joining him as a rookie to the All-Star team is Atlanta’s explosive guard, Trae Young. In his second season, Young is averaging 29.2 points and 8.6 assists per game.
Kemba Walker will be an All-Star starter for the second time, and his fourth selection to the team overall. Joel Embiid will start at center to round out the Eastern squad, earning All-Star honors for the third time in his young career.
2020 #NBAAllStar West starters 🌟
LeBron James (Captain)
Anthony Davis
Kawhi Leonard
Luka Doncic
James Harden pic.twitter.com/MvJL7gF2VF— ESPN (@espn) January 24, 2020
The Western Conference will also have the same captain as last year, as LeBron James continues to defy age and dominate the league. Anthony Davis joins James, as the pair have led their Lakers to a 35-9 record that tops the West.
Luka Doncic is the sole newbie to the All-Star team out of the West’s starting five. Flanking him on the wings are James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, their eighth and fourth selections respectively.
Three voting groups determined the starters:
• Fans (50%)
• Current NBA players (25%)
• Media panel (25%)Here’s the voting breakdown: pic.twitter.com/bRjVa9TEqz
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 24, 2020