NBA All-Star Game 2018-19: 3 Biggest Surprises
The NBA All Star game for the 2018-19 season is getting closer and closer. This will be the 68th edition of the All Star match and will be played on February 17, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Just like last year, this year too will not feature a East vs West format, but instead the rosters are selected through a voting process.
The starters were chosen by the fans, media, and current NBA players. Fans made up 50% of the vote, and NBA players and media each comprised 25% of the vote. The two guards and three frontcourt players who received the highest cumulative vote totals were named the All-Star starters.
NBA head coaches will vote for the reserves for their respective conferences, none of which can be players from their own team. Each coach selects two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards, with each selected player ranked in order of preference within each category.
The leading vote-getters are then announced the captains of the opposing teams. This season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James had the highest votes in their conferences and are the captains.
The All Stars are as follows:
Eastern Conference All Star Starters: Kemba Walker (G), Kyrie Irving (G), Kawhi Leonard (F), Giannis Antetokounmpo (F), Joel Embiid (C).
Eastern Conference All Star Reserves: Kyle Lowry (G), Victor Oladipo, replaced by D'Angelo Russell (G), Bradley Beal (G), Ben Simmons (G), Khris Middleton (F), Blake Griffin (F), Nikola Vucevic (C). Dwayne Wade (G) is a special roster addition as it is his final season and due to his contribution to the game, will be a third round pick.
Western Conference All Star Starters: Stephen Curry (G), James Harden (G), LeBron James (F), Kevin Durant (F), Paul George (F).
Western Conference All Star Reserves: Russell Westbrook (G), Damian Lillard (G), Klay Thompson (G), Anthony Davis (F), LaMarcus Aldridge (F), Nikola Jokic (C), Karl-Anthony Towns (C). Dirk Nowitzki (F) is a special roster addition as it is his final season and due to his contribution to the game, will be a third round pick.
The draft will take place on February 7th 2019. James will have the first pick in the first round and the third round in the draft for receiving the most votes overall, while Antetokounmpo has the first pick in the second round of the draft. The draft pool consisted of the eight other starters, with no regard to conference designation, and 14 reserves.
Now, let us look at the 3 biggest surprises in the All Star game this year.