Kevin Durant doesn’t understand why All-Stars would feel slighted by being picked last: “It’s like the brokest millionaire getting picked"
Kevin Durant was one of the top vote-getters in this year’s NBA All-Star and has been one of the fan favorites for over a decade already. Since the new format was installed six years ago, he’s either been the team captain or chosen as a starter.
The NBA tweaked the format a little bit in response to some of the players who found it almost disrespectful if picked last. KD doesn’t understand the brouhaha concerning the potential of being the last name called among 24 of the best players in the league.
Here’s what Kevin Durant had to say when LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will draft their respective teams:
"In this setting, you being picked last ... it's like the brokest millionaire getting picked."
Kevin Durant doesn’t understand why All-Stars would feel slighted by being picked last in the All-Star game
“It’s like the brokest millionaire getting picked.” https://t.co/5byo532QDN
Kevin Durant will not play for the second consecutive All-Star game as he is dealing with a right MCL sprain. Taking his place in the starting lineup will be Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid. Last year, it was Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum who lined up before tip-off for KD.
Several weeks ago, the starters, who LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will choose from, were named. Tatum, Embiid, Donovan Mitchell and Kyrie Irving were taken from the Eastern Conference. The West starters will be Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Ja Morant and Lauri Markkanen.
Morant and Markkanen will take the place of Steph Curry and Zion Williamson, respectively, who are both injured.
The reserves coming from the East are Bam Adebayo, Jaylen Brown, DeMar DeRozan, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Julius Randle and Pascal Siakam.
The West will have Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaren Jackson Jr., Damian Lillard and Domantas Sabonis.
One of them, as Kevin Durant said, will be “the brokest millionaire getting picked.”
In order to avoid a “last player being picked” in the NBA All-Star game draft, captains will select the reserves first…followed by the starters.
Per @NBAonTNT https://t.co/NCYvwbLpCI
Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox and Lauri Markkanen are making their All-Star game debuts. They’re likely not to mind getting picked last, considering it’s their first time.
Markkanen replaced the injured Williamson as the game will be played in Salt Lake City, home of the Utah Jazz and the “Finnisher’s” team.
Kevin Durant refused to take former teammate James Harden as his last pick in the 2022 All-Star draft
Domantas Sabonis in 2020, Rudy Gobert in 2021 and James Harden in 2022 have been the last picks over the past three All-Star drafts.
Gobert might have made it back-to-back had it not been for the drama that rocked the Brooklyn Nets heading into the All-Star last year. Roughly a year ago, Harden pushed his way out of Barclays Center. “The Beard” was reportedly partying when the Nets still had a few games to play before the NBA gathered its top players for a weekend.
Ultimately, the former MVP was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package centered around the disgruntled Ben Simmons. The swap made sense for both teams but created a potentially awkward NBA All-Star draft.
Rudy Gobert and James Harden were the last names on the board for LeBron James and Kevin Durant to pick. KD explained that he needed size, much to the delight of the NBA on TNT hosts who were expecting as much. He picked Gobert. By default, Harden completed “King James’” team.
Ironically enough, neither Harden nor Gobert are making the trip to Salt Lake City this year. The Philly point guard felt disrespected regarding the exclusion.
Kevin Durant is right. Being picked last is not as bad as being left out of the team entirely.