Disappointment for LeBron James! The NBA has announced the starters for next month’s All-Star Game – and for the first time since 2005, the LA Lakers star is missing from the starting line-up.
The four-time NBA champion, who has been voted starter for 22 consecutive years, fell well short of the competition in all three voting categories.
After an injury, the forward missed the first 14 games of the season, was slow to get going and even saw his legendary streak of 1,297 games with at least ten points in a game come to an end. Whether James even goes to the All-Star Game now depends on the coaches who nominate the bench players.
Doncic vor Jokic und Curry
Luka Doncic, now James’ teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers, received the most votes in the West. The Slovenian is currently putting up 33.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.6 assists.
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) will start alongside him.
It is Curry’s twelfth All-Star invitation, while Wembanyama makes his debut in the starting lineup with 24.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks.
Last season’s MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander, continues to impress with 31.8 points per game, while Jokic has 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and eleven assists despite recent knee problems.
Giannis dominates – new faces shine
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the field in the East. The “Greek Freak” delivers 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists, even if his Milwaukee Bucks are currently only in eleventh place.
He has support from Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) and Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics).
Cunningham and Maxey are in the starting lineup for the first time in their careers. Brunson made it into the star squad for the third time.
