NBA All-Star Draft results: LeBron takes Giannis 1st, Durant picks Kyrie, Harden
LeBron James opted for two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with the first selection in Thursday's NBA All-Star Game draft.
That pick enabled Kevin Durant to select teammate Kyrie Irving with the second choice, and the Brooklyn Nets' three-headed monster was kept intact when James Harden was taken first among reserves.
| TEAM LEBRON | PLAYERS IN ORDER OF SELECTION |
|---|---|
| F | Giannis Antetokounmpo * |
| G | Steph Curry * |
| G | Luka Doncic * |
| C | Nikola Jokic * |
| G | Damian Lillard |
| G | Ben Simmons |
| G | Chris Paul |
| F | Jaylen Brown |
| F | Paul George |
| F | Domantas Sabonis |
| C | Rudy Gobert |
As a result of leading the fan vote, James selected first in an opening round comprised exclusively of All-Star Game starters, while Durant had the same honors for a second round made up of reserves.
| TEAM DURANT | PLAYERS IN ORDER OF SELECTION |
|---|---|
| G | Kyrie Irving * |
| C | Joel Embiid * |
| F | Kawhi Leonard * |
| G | Bradley Beal * |
| F | Jayson Tatum * |
| G | James Harden |
| G | Devin Booker |
| F | Zion Williamson |
| G | Zach LaVine |
| F | Julius Randle |
| C | Nikola Vucevic |
| G | Donovan Mitchell |
* - denotes starters
Durant, who missed each of the Nets' nine games ahead of the break, won't play in the All-Star Game due to a prolonged recovery from a hamstring injury. Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will replace Durant in the starting lineup, while Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis was selected as a reserve to fill the remaining roster spot.
Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were chosen with the last two picks despite their team boasting the league's best record heading into the break.
"There is no slander to the Utah Jazz," James said following the draft, according to USA Today's Mark Medina.
"You guys got to understand. Just like in video games growing up, we never played with Utah. Even as great as Karl Malone and John Stockton was, we never picked those guys in video games. Never."
The All-Star Game takes place on March 7 in Atlanta.