The first-ever international team in the NBA All-Star Game already looks ready. And the fate of LeBron James’ record string of All-Star selections will now be decided by the coaches, or perhaps even commissioner Adam Silver.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic and San Antonio’s Victor Wimpanyama were among the players announced Monday as starters — an imprecise term this year — for next month’s All-Star Game at the Los Angeles Clippers’ home arena in Inglewood, California. They will likely head to the World Team, which will face two teams of American players as part of another new format for the mid-season showcase.
The NBA announced 10 starters, five from each conference. Golden State’s Stephen Curry, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey and Boston’s Jaylen Brown are supposed to head to the American teams that will play in the three-team, round-robin tournament on February 15 — all 12-minute mini-games, with the top two teams advancing to the 12-minute championship game.
But James, for the first time in 22 years, was not among the group selected as a starter. His record of 20 consecutive All-Star Game appearances — not selections, continuing that streak — ended last season when he opted out with foot and ankle injuries. He could still be named an All-Star reserve, with those 14 spots determined by the NBA Coaches Poll. He could also earn a call-up as an injury replacement if necessary, with Silver selecting these players when necessary.
James was not named an All-Star his rookie season in the NBA.
James is in his record-setting 23rd season. His record streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points ended in December, and he has already missed 17 games — meaning he will likely have to play in every Lakers game for the rest of the season to be eligible for most postseason awards such as All-NBA honors. James has been an All-NBA selection in 21 of his first 22 seasons, including last season as a second baseman.
“It’s still as special as the first one, honestly,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of his All-Star nod. “I grew up watching All-Star games as a kid, and I dreamed of playing in them. To be able to play in them will always have the same feeling. All the players I looked up to, who I emulated afterward, who played in those games, played on that stage. And for me to be able to do that, it’s a blessing and an honor.”
The starters were selected through a weighted formula, with fan votes accounting for 50% of a player’s rating, votes from a 100-member panel of broadcasters and reporters accounting for 25%, and votes from NBA players themselves counting for the remaining 25%.
The concept of United States vs. the World had been talked about for years before it became a reality this season. The NBA and National Basketball Players Association unveiled the long-awaited plan earlier this season, after once again trying to figure out the latest way to spark renewed interest in the game.