Unsurprisingly, and in the continuity of the final score dating from last week, these are LeBron James (West) and Kevin Durant (East) who finish at the top of the votes aimed at designating the holders of the All-Star Game 2022 (the 71st in history).
Therefore, and as in 2021, the Lakers winger and the Nets winger will be the captains of Team LeBron and Team Durant. They will therefore each be able to select the 11 other players who will walk the floor of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with them on Sunday, February 20, once the announcement of replacements has fallen next Thursday.
“With them”, or almost, since we recall that Kevin Durant will not be able to hold his place in Cleveland, due to his recent knee injury. Which means that he will be replaced in the five by one of the replacements chosen by the coaches in the Eastern Conference (Jimmy Butler? Jayson Tatum? Khris Middleton?).
However, even if he will miss the event for the third year in a row, “KD” will indeed make up his roster. And while waiting to know the composition of each starred workforce (February 10), LeBron James (18th selection) and Kevin Durant (12th selection) are obviously not the only ones to have been designated holders for the next All-Star Game.
Two firsts and two returns
In the West, we will thus find without surprise Stephen Curry (8th selection, Warriors) and Nikola Jokic (4th selection, Nuggets), evidence at their post. As for Ja Morant (Grizzlies), he will honor as expected his very first participation in an all-star game in three weeks. Another great first, more surprising but ultimately deserved: that ofAndrew Wiggins (Warriors), who took advantage of his team’s superb season, where his performances were noticed, to win his very first selection!
To the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo (6th selection, Bucks) and Joel Embiid (5th selection, Sixers) were obviously acclaimed in their category, while DeMar DeRozan (5th selection, Bulls) logically regains this honor for the first time since 2018. He will be accompanied in the “backcourt” by Trae Young (2nd selection, Hawks), who had missed the mark in 2021.
Note that this is the 9th time that LeBron James has finished No. 1 in votes for the All-Star Game and it is an NBA record, tied with Michael Jordan. The “King” is also approaching the all-star selections record, held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19).
THE STARTING FIVE FROM EACH CONFERENCE
Where is : J. Morant (MEM) — S. Curry (GSW) — A. Wiggins (GSW) — L. James (LAL) — N. Jokic (DEN)
East : T. Young (ATL) — D. DeRozan (CHI) — K. Durant (BKN) — G. Antetokounmpo (MIL) — J. Embiid (PHI)
