Who won the NBA All-Star Draft: Team LeBron vs Team Durant
Written by: Andrew Felton
As we approach one of the most exciting weekends in the NBA, where celebrities from across the globe gather to watch the biggest stars battle it out, in the annual All-Star game. This years game will take place on February 21st, in Cleveland, Ohio. The captains this year are LeBron James from the LA Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets, who recently drafted their star studded teams.
With plenty of talent to choose from, who won this draft?
Team Lebron
With LeBron James set to make his 18th All-Star appearance, tying with Kobe Bryant, and his fifth as a captain, James in no stranger to the All-Star weekend. With the draft format a popular watch, so let's see who James drafted this year.
Pick 1 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucs)
With the first pick, James chose last years NBA champions star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is arguably one of the best players currently in the league and is a player who is very hard to stop in the paint, currently averaging 29 ppg, 11.2 rpg and 6 apg.
Pick 2 - Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
The best 3 point shooter in the league, Stephen Curry, was LeBron's second pick. Curry, recently over took Reggie Miller as the player with the most three pointers in NBA history and is currently averaging 25.7 ppg.
Pick 3 - DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)
Pick three, DeMar DeRozan looked close to being a Laker alongside James at the start of the season, however with the Chicago Bulls getting the deal done, DeRozan has shown what an asset he can be to any team averaging 27.5 ppg and 5.1 apg.
Pick 4 - Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
How else could LeBrons team get stronger? by adding the Joker. Nikola Jokic is almost a walking triple double this season, dominating on offense and defence, with stats of 25.8 ppg, 13.7 rpg and 7.9 apg.
Pick 5 - Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Even with Durant having three picks in a row, LeBron still managed to land Luka Doncic, who similar to Jokic is almost averaging a triple double this season with, 26.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 9.1apg.
Pick 6 - Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Making his All-star debut, Darius Garland was LeBrons sixth pick. Currently playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in his third season, Garland is averaging 19.9 ppg with 8.1 apg and will be looking to enjoy this All-Star experience.
Pick 7 - Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns)
Long time friend of LeBron, Chris Paul is making his 12th NBA All-Star appearance and is the current assist leader of All-Star games and a previous MVP. Paul will be looking to dish out some dimes this year currently averaging over 10 apg in the league.
Pick 8 - Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
Butler is always a fun player to watch and will be a player guaranteed to put on a show for the fans who come to watch. Currently at the Miami Heat, Butler is averaging 22 ppg, with over 6 apg and 6 rpg, helping the Heat to a 36-20 record.
Pick 9 - Donavan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
Mitchell is appearing in his third straight All-Star game for team James, currently averaging 25.4 ppg in the league for the Utah Jazz.
Pick 10 - Fred VanVleet (Toronto Raptors)
Fred VanVleet finally gets the All-Star appearance he deserves and is only the fourth player who went undrafted to be picked for an All-Star game. Currently averaging 21.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 7.1 apg, VanVleet is doing it all for the Raptors and hopefully with get some time on the court.
Pick 11 - James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers)
James Harden was the last pick of the draft for team James and had an interesting reaction from pundits and NBA hosts and his former team mate Kevin Durant had not picked him, maybe for reasons due to injury or for the fact he knew Harden was being traded. With things not working out for Harden at the Nets and the so called 'Super Team' failing to perform, he has still averaged 22.5 ppg, 8 rpg and 10.2 apg but, maybe unlikely to make an appearance due to injury.
Team Kevin Durant
The two-time NBA All-Star MVP, Kevin Durant, will captain the opposing team in this All-Star game, currently having an impressive individual season with the Brooklyn Nets, although having a disappointing record. Durant will be making his 12th All-Star appearance. However, Durant will not actually be making a playing appearance and will be captaining from the sideline with his place being taken by the Boston Celtics players Jayson Tatum, due to injury.
Pick 1 - Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Durants first pick was the Philadelphia 76ers centre, Joel Embiid. Embiid is currently averaging a double-double with 29.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg and 4.3 apg, appearing in his fifth All-Star game and could make the difference is stopping team James winning again.
Pick 2 - Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
Missing out last year, when many thought he would be chosen, Ja Morant was picked by team Durant as a deserved starter. Ja Morant has impressed since joining the NBA , being a massive part of the Grizzlies franchise. Averaging 26.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 6.8 apg this season, Morant's fantastic athleticism will be something to look out for in this All-Star game.
Pick 3 - Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
This will be Tatums third All-Star appearance, having previously appeared winning the skills challenge in 2019. Not sure Tatum would have been everyones sixth overall pick in this All-Star draft, however he is having a great individual season with the Celtics averaging 25.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 4.1 apg and is taking the place of injured captain Kevin Durant as a starter.
Pick 4 - Trae young (Atlanta Hawks)
Another starter for Team Durant is Hawks point guard Trae Young. Trae young is a very exciting player to watch, he can hit three's from distance as well as assisting his team mates in the flashiest of ways. Young is currently hitting 27.6 ppg and 9.4 apg, with fans possibly seeing him line up again against Luka Doncic in what is always a fun watch.
Pick 5 - Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors)
Wiggins is another player making his All-Star debut and is the second player from the Warriors. He is however, on the opposite side to team mate Steph Curry and again maybe a player who might have thought to be drafted a little later in this All-Star line up.
Pick 6 - Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Devin Booker a player with incredible talent will be lining up for his third NBA All-Star game and similar to Wiggins, going up against team mate Chris Paul. Booker become the youngest player to hit consecutive 50-point games and is currently averaging 25.5 ppg, looking once again to take the Suns to the NBA finals.
Pick 7 - Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
KAT has also been named a reserve for this All-Star game and will be making his third appearance. Close to averaging a double-double this season with 24.3 ppg and 9.5 rpg, KAT will add much needed strength to team Durant.
Pick 8 - Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
Zach LaVine has been voted into the All-Star game for the second successive time in his career. He is no stranger to appearing and winning during this weekend as he holds two slam dunk contest wins in 2015 and 2016. LaVine is averaging 24.6 ppg this season in a very strong and likeable Chicago Bulls squad.
Pick 9 - Dejounte Murray (San Antonio Spurs)
San Antonio Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray, will make his All-Star debut for team Durant, thanks to impressive stats this season with 19.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 9.3 apg, adopting an all round, team player, style of play.
Pick 10 - Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucs)
Another of last years NBA champions, Khris Middleton, will be making his third NBA All-Star appearance and will be looking to sink some three's and be part of the show.
Pick 11 - LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets)
With a space up for grabs after the announcement of Durant not taking part because of his injury and Jayson Tatum promoted to starter, LaMelo Ball got the call to become an All-Star, and will become the fourth youngest player to do so. After a very impressive rookie season, winning Rookie of the year, Ball has continued where he left off last season averaging 20 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 7.6 apg, showing he is a star for the future.
Pick 12 - Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Gobert was Durants last pick of the draft which made LeBron James laugh, as former team mate of Durants, James Harden, was still left on the board and did not get picked until last. Gobert is making his third straight NBA All-Star appearance after averaging a double-double this season with 16 ppg and 15.1 rpg, rounding off the list of stars for this NBA All-Star game.
Prediction
With the draft for the All-Star game complete and players in to replace those injured, this game may not be as close as last years battle, with Team LeBron, winning another All-Star game and Giannis claiming the MVP award. This will still be a spectacle not to miss with a lot of talent on show, who will be looking to show off all their skills and get the crowd going.
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