LeBron James got drafted No. 1. Again.
And while the NBA considers one day having a U.S. versus the World format for its midseason showcase, there will be a taste of what that could be at this year’s All-Star Game as well.
James, the player with the most appearances in NBA All-Star Game history, was selected No. 1 overall for the Feb. 16 competition at the home of the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. The draft for the was held Thursday night on TNT, with analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith picking the teams.
“Old and legendary,” O’Neal said. “I’m going to go with LeBron Eduardo James.”
James’ actual middle name is Raymone, but O’Neal has a habit of making up middle names for people. Either way, the 21-time All-Star was the No. 1 pick, just like he was when he entered the NBA in 2003.
And for this All-Star Game — or games, as will be the case — the NBA made up a new format. Determined to try to make the event more competitive, the NBA turned the game into a tournament: The 24 All-Stars were drafted onto one of three eight-man rosters.
Barkley went with players who all have international ties: Nikola Jokic of Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada, Victor Wembanyama of France, Pascal Siakam of Cameroon, Alperen Sengun of Turkey, Karl-Anthony Towns (whose mother is Dominican) and Donovan Mitchell (whose mother is Panamanian).
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the league has thought about a game pitting American players against those from the international ranks, but he noted it would be complicated to make the roster selection fair. If it was the traditional format, with 12-man rosters, it would be easier for international players to be declared All-Stars. About 70% of the players in the NBA are American; about 30% are from other countries.
“It may be, to me, a little bit of an old-fashioned concept where we come in as Americans and say, ‘We’ll take on the world.’ I’m not sure how well that would be received by our international players,” Silver said. “We’re experimenting with a new format this year. I haven’t given up on All-Star still being competitive, entertaining games for the fans. That’s certainly not what we were (last) year.”
Last year’s game was the highest-scoring matchup in NBA All-Star history, 211-186, basically all of that from 3-pointers and dunks.
This year’s event will be a four-team tournament: the winner of the Rising Stars competition for first- and second-year players on Feb. 14 will be the fourth team taking part two days later. There will be two semifinal games, then the winners will play for the championship — and the first team to 40 points in those games win.
The winning Rising Stars team that advances to the All-Star Game will be called Team Candace, for Candace Parker, the recently retired WNBA great. The others will be Team Charles, Team Kenny and Team Shaq.
The following is a breakdown of the rosters, with the player’s overall pick spot in parentheses.
Team Shaq: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1); Stephen Curry, Warriors (5); Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks (9); Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtic (10); Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (14); Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks (18); James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers (19); Jaylen Brown, Celtics (24).
Team Kenny: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (2); Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (6); Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (7); Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder (11); Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers (15); Evan Mobley, Cavaliers (16); Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (20); Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (23).
Team Charles: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (3); Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (4); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder (8); Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (12); Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers (13); Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets (17); Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks (21); Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers (22).