The 2020 NBA All-Star Game is Sunday night from Chicago, and this year’s matchup will be honouring the late Kobe Bryant in a very unusual format change.

NBA All-Star Game Point Spread, Betting Analysis

On Jan. 26 in the Los Angeles area, former Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash. Rather strangely, it happened only about 12 hours after Kobe was passed by current Laker LeBron James as the third-leading scorer in NBA history.

Bryant’s death is going to linger over the rest of this NBA season without question as he was one of the greatest players ever. Kobe made 18 All-Star Games, second most to another Lakers legend Kareem-Abdul Jabbar (19), and Bryant’s four All-Star Game MVP Awards are a record.

The NBA was clearly going to do something special to honour Kobe at the All-Star Game, and it sure did with a complete format change. The ASG is still four quarters of basketball, but Team LeBron and Team Giannis (Antetokounmpo) will compete to win each of the first three quarters, still the standard 12 minutes, for charities in the Chicago area as selected by LeBron and Giannis.

Thus, the game starts with a score of 0-0, and so do the second and third quarters. They are each sub-games, so to speak. The fourth quarter will not have a game clock. Instead, it will be the first team to a cumulative target score of 24 additional points on top of what the leading team had through three quarters – the number 24 was what Kobe wore the final 10 seasons of his career.

Let’s say that Team LeBron is leading Team Giannis 100-90 in cumulative points after the first three quarters. The first team to 124 wins the All-Star Game. While team LeBron only needs to score 24 points in this scenario, Team Giannis would need 34.

Every player on Team LeBron will wear No. 2 in honour of Kobe’s late daughter Gianna, as she wore that number in her young basketball career. All members of Team Giannis will wear 24.

Team LeBron

Just like last year, LeBron and Giannis were the leading vote-getters in their respective conferences and thus were named captains. And just like last year, each “drafted” their teams regardless of conference affiliation. LeBron was allowed to pick first from the pool of eight others players voted as starters, and Giannis picked first from the pool of reserves.

Also just like last year, LeBron picked Anthony Davis No. 1 overall; this season, though, Davis is a Lakers teammate of LeBron’s. James also took former Raptor Kawhi Leonard, the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and the Rockets’ James Harden among the starters. Being honest, LeBron’s team is way more talented overall considering he also added guys like Devin Booker (injury replacement for Damian Lillard), Ben Simmons, Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook among reserves.

Team Giannis

Both current Raptors All-Stars, Pascal Siakam (who will start) and Kyle Lowry, are on Team Giannis. He picked Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid with the No. 2 overall selection and then Siakam. Antetokounmpo also took Kemba Walker and Trae Young among starters. Teammate Khris Middleton was the Greek Freak’s No. 1 overall choice among reserves (just like last year) and Lowry went No. 17 overall.

Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 178-164 last year in Charlotte, N.C. Kevin Durant was the MVP, but he’s out injured this season.

Who Will Win Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis?

Injuries

Team LeBron

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Sun Groin - 11 / 10 / 20

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Heel - 10 / 10 / 20

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Tues Groin - 05 / 10 / 20

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Heel - 05 / 10 / 20

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Sun Groin - 04 / 10 / 20

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Heel - 04 / 10 / 20

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Wed Groin - 29 / 09 / 20

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Wed Heel - 29 / 09 / 20

LeBron James (SF)

Prob Sat Thigh - 25 / 09 / 20

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 25 / 09 / 20

Team Giannis

Bam Adebayo (C)

Prob Fri Neck - 07 / 10 / 20

Bam Adebayo (C)

Prob Tues Neck - 01 / 10 / 20

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 01 / 10 / 20

Bam Adebayo (C)

Prob Fri Wrist - 24 / 09 / 20

Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Out Tues Ankle - 06 / 09 / 20

Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 09 / 20

Kemba Walker (PG)

Prob Tues Knee - 31 / 08 / 20

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Prob Mon Shoulder - 26 / 08 / 20

Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Prob Mon Calf - 24 / 08 / 20

Jimmy Butler (PF)

day-to-day Shoulder - 24 / 08 / 20

Injuries

Team LeBron

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Sun	Groin - 11 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
James is projected to suit up for Game 6 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat despite soreness in his right groin.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Heel - 10 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
Davis is bothered by a right heel contusion, but he is expected to be available for Game 6 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Tues	Groin - 05 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
James is battling a sore right groin, but he is likely to take on the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Heel - 05 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
Davis is expected to play in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Heat despite a right heel contusion.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Sun	Groin - 04 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
James is expected to take on the Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right groin.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Heel - 04 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
Davis is likely to play in Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat despite a right heel contusion.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Wed	Groin - 29 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
James is nursing a sore right groin, but it is anticipated that he will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Wed	Heel - 29 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
Davis is battling a right heel contusion but is likely to suit up against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
LeBron James (SF)	Prob Sat	Thigh - 25 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
James has a thigh contusion, but is expected to line up against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 25 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
Davis has a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

Team Giannis

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Bam Adebayo (C)	Prob Fri	Neck - 07 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
Adebayo is dealing with a neck strain, but it is projected that he will play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Lakers.
Bam Adebayo (C)	Prob Tues	Neck - 01 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
Adebayo is bothered by a strained neck, but he is likely to play against the Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 01 / 10 / 20	-	-	+ -
Butler is managing a sprained left ankle, but he is likely to take the court for Game 2 of the NBA Finals versus the Lakers.
Bam Adebayo (C)	Prob Fri	Wrist - 24 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
Adebayo is expected to take the court for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics despite a left wrist injury.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Out Tues	Ankle - 06 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
Antetokounmpo aggravated his right ankle sprain, and he will not suit up for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Heat.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 05 / 09 / 20	-	-	+ -
Antetokounmpo has a sprained right ankle, but he is expected to line up against the Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Kemba Walker (PG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 31 / 08 / 20	-	-	+ -
Walker is expected to suit up against the Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round despite tweaking his left knee.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Prob Mon	Shoulder - 26 / 08 / 20	-	-	+ -
Butler is hampered by a soft-tissue injury in his left shoulder, but he is expected to be active in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Prob Mon	Calf - 24 / 08 / 20	-	-	+ -
Antetokounmpo is battling a left calf contusion but is expected to line up versus the Magic in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	day-to-day	Shoulder - 24 / 08 / 20	-	-	+ -
Butler is tending to left shoulder strain, and it is uncertain if he draw back into the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round.