The starters for the 2024 All-Star Game have now been revealed, with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo once again being captains for their respective teams.
As captain of the Western Conference, James will lead a starting group that also consists of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic. Giannis, meanwhile, will be starting alongside Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid.
LeBron, who is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game this season for the Los Angeles Lakers, has made history with this selection here. The 39-year-old has now broken a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to set the new record for All-Star selections with 20. Durant is the only other starter from either team that is in double digits, as this is his 14th selection.
There are no first-time All-Stars among the starters, who were voted in here based on a combination of fan votes (50%), media votes (25%), and player votes (25%). The reserves for the game, which will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on February 18, will be announced on February 1.
After implementing a draft format for the starters in 2018, the NBA is returning to the traditional West vs. East format from this year, a decision that was welcomed by fans.
NBA Fans Reacted To The Starters For The Game
The starting lineups for the 2024 All-Star Game generated a ton of buzz on social media. NBA fans had a wide range of reactions to it.
A fan can’t believe Lillard is a starter over Jalen Brunson, “Dame being a starter over Brunson is a joke lmao.”
One said it’s crazy that Stephen Curry isn’t starting, “Curry not starting is crazy.”
One believes if Curry isn’t starting then LeBron shouldn’t either, “If Curry isn’t starting then LeBron shouldn’t either.”
A fan says Kawhi Leonard should have been the starter over James, “Tbh Kawhi should be in there over LeBron.”
One fan said it is ridiculous Lillard is a starter, “Dame being a starter is ridiculous.”
A fan believes the East will smash the West in the game, “The East is about to smack the West.”
You are never going to find a starting group that everyone is happy with. There are only 10 spots up for grabs and so many players would be deserving of that honor of starting the game. I do believe, though, that one pick, in particular, was a bit of a questionable one, Lillard.
The Biggest Snubs From The Starting Lineups
When we get to the biggest snubs, the first name that comes to mind is Curry. The 35-year-old is averaging 26.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game this season, and it was quite surprising that he didn’t make it in.
Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander, however, are having incredible seasons. The Slovenian is averaging 33.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2023-24 and was always going to be a starter.
Meanwhile, SGA is averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He certainly isn’t an undeserving selection, especially as he has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 31-13 start.
The other very notable snub here that fans have brought up is Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game this season. His New York Knicks also boast a 27-17 record, and you could argue he should have made it in over Lillard, who has put up 25.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in 2023-24.
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