Team LeBron vs Team Giannis: NBA All-Star Game Odds & Prediction
The All-Star break comes at a good point in the season, giving time for the league to take a week off with guys dragging both physically and mentally. It means we should be seeing some excellent basketball the rest of the way and into the playoffs. What better way to start that off than with a superstar showdown between Team LeBron and Team Giannis. featuring the best players in the league. For a full preview of the All-Star Skills Challenge, click here.
NBA All-Star Game History
It’s the second time Charlotte has hosted. In 1991 at the old Charlotte Coliseum, the Eastern Conference beat the West 116-114 behind an MVP performance from Charles Barkley. Charlotte was originally to host the 2017 All-Star Game, but the NBA pulled it because of a controversial law that was passed in North Carolina. Once that was repealed, the NBA returned the game.
This is the second straight year the NBA has gone away from conference vs. conference and instead has had two captains draft their teams. The captains were Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who alternated picks in the draft. They were captains as the leading vote-getters by fans.
2019 NBA All-Star Game Odds
Team LeBron are currently the -5.5 point favorites for this year’s All-Star game. Team LeBron beat Team Steph Curry in last year’s event 148-145. Click here to see the complete rosters for Team LeBron and Team Giannis.
Team LeBron
By getting the most All-Star votes, James selected first in the draft – which was televised for the first time and quite entertaining. Check out the full video below. James and Antetokounmpo each had to pick from the pool of the other eight starters (by votes) and then the pool of reserves chosen from the Eastern and Western Conferences. Commissioner Adam Silver also added two special All-Stars in the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki. Those two are first-ballot Hall of Famers and retiring after this season.
James’ first pick was the Warriors’ Kevin Durant, followed by the Celtics’ Kyrie Irving, Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard, Rockets’ James Harden, Pelicans’ Anthony Davis and Warriors’ Klay Thompson. Why are those first six choices notable? In theory, all but Harden (under contract) could be Lakers next season with LeBron (well, not all but a couple of them). Durant, Irving, Leonard and Thompson will be free agents, while Davis already has demanded a trade and it’s no secret he wants to play in L.A. In the “special third round,” James took his former Heat teammate Wade.
Team Giannis
The Greek Freak was allowed the first choice of reserves since LeBron had the first overall pick in the starters’ pool. Among the starters, Antetokounmpo’s order of selection was the Warriors’ Steph Curry, 76ers’ Joel Embiid, Thunder’s Paul George and Hornets’ Kemba Walker. His first reserve pick was first-time All-Star and teammate Khris Middleton. Clearly not the best player on the board, but that’s being a good teammate.
Antetokounmpo also took Philly’s Ben Simmons among his reserves, but, in a rather funny moment, he and LeBron agreed afterward on a trade of Simmons for Oklahoma City’s Mr. Triple-Double, Russell Westbrook. Who knew there could be trades!?
As of now, the only player named an All-Star who won’t play due to injury is Indiana guard Victor Oladipo. He was replaced by Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell, who is on Team Giannis.
Watch the 2019 NBA All-Star Draft
2019 NBA All-Star Game Prediction
LeBron, Durant, Irving, Leonard, Harden and Davis on the same team? Wow. Team LeBron wins 152-146.