The NBA is returning to the East vs. West format in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2017, and the league unveiled who will be starting for each conference Thursday night. Each team has two guards and three frontcourt players rather than assigning specific positions.
The Milwaukee Bucks — who fired head coach Adrian Griffin earlier this week to hire Doc Rivers — are the only team sending two starters to the game with guard Damian Lillard and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The latter will also serve as team captain. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Philadelphia 76ers forward Joel Embiid round out the Eastern Conference starters.
The West won the last three All-Star games that were conference showdowns from 2015-17, and this time around they’ll be captained by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. It's the 20th time James has been named an All-Star, the most in NBA history. The rest of the team is comprised of Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokić.
Notably absent among the starters is Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who has the best MVP odds of any player left out, according to FanDuel (+7500). The six above him are Embiid (+130), Jokić (+250), Gilgeous-Alexander (+360), Dončić (+900), Antetokounmpo (+1200) and Tatum (+4800).
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers don’t have a single starter despite having the fourth-best odds to win the NBA title (+850). The Timberwolves (+1800) and Miami Heat (+3400) are the only other teams in the top 10 without an All-Star starter.
The 73rd NBA All-Star Game takes place Sunday, Feb. 18, in Indianapolis. The rest of the team will be announced Thursday, Feb. 1.
