LeBron James, first-timers Ja Morant, Andrew Wiggins named NBA All-Star starters

Lakers ahead LeBron James throughout NBA motion in opposition to Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday in New York. James was named NBA All-Star captain and starter on Thursday.

(Frank Franklin II / Related Press)

NEW YORK — 

LeBron James will return to Cleveland as an All-Star Recreation captain, and Ja Morant and Andrew Wiggins are headed there as first-time picks.

MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Warriors famous person Stephen Curry joined them Thursday as the opposite gamers voted as starters from the Western Convention.

The starters from the East have been Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid within the frontcourt, together with Atlanta’s Trae Younger and Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan.

James and Durant, because the main vote-getters in every convention, would be the captains who draft gamers for the rosters for the Feb. 20 sport in Cleveland.

James, who started his NBA profession with the Cavaliers in 2003 and led them to the 2016 championship throughout his second stint there, was chosen as an All-Star for the 18th straight time. He has been a captain yearly for the reason that league went away from the East vs. West format.

Durant’s availability for the sport is doubtful due to a sprained knee ligament. He was voted a starter for the tenth time, whereas Antetokounmpo was voted in for a sixth consecutive time, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s franchise file for picks.

Embiid was voted a starter for the fifth straight season, the longest streak by a 76ers participant since Allen Iverson was chosen seven straight instances from 2000-06.

Fan ballots accounted for 50% of the vote, with a media panel and present gamers every accounting for 25%.

Morant, the No. 2 decide behind Zion Williamson within the 2019 draft, was rewarded for having Memphis a stunning third within the Western Convention. Averaging 25.8 factors, 6.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds, he joins Marc Gasol as the one Grizzlies gamers voted All-Star starters.

“Blessed & Grateful,” he wrote on Twitter in pondering his followers.

Wiggins was essentially the most stunning choice. The No. 1 decide of the 2014 draft has blossomed since being traded to Golden State two years in the past and is averaging 18.1 factors for the group with the league’s second-best file.

Reserves for the sport, voted on by the top coaches in every convention, might be introduced on Feb. 3.