Sixers center Joel Embiid, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nets forward Kevin Durant have been named All-Star starters from the Eastern Conference frontcourt pool.
DeMar DeRozan (Bulls) and Trae Young (Hawks) are the conference’s guards who will join them as starters, NBA Communications tweets.
Durant will be a team captain because he is the All-Star starter from the East with the most fan votes in the East. However, he’s currently sidelined by a knee injury and isn’t expected to play in next month’s All-Star Game at Cleveland.
DeRozan was the leader among Eastern Conference guards in the fan voting. The fan vote counted for 50% in the selection process, with player voting accounting for 25% and the media getting a 25% say.
It will be DeRozan’s third All-Star start and fifth All-Star game. In his first year with the Bulls, DeRozan is averaging 26.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 4.8 APG. All of the starters from the East are among the NBA’s top six scorers, led by Durant (29.3 PPG) and Embiid (29.0 PPG).
yeah but when is the Simmons ASG announcement
I would’ve much preferred the Simmons troll AS vote than the Wiggins one
Agree with all but Trae. That being said he should be fun to watch when everyone else is playing Defense at the level he does nightly!
Tough call between Lavine and Young as starters. The players voted for Lavine. I can see an argument for both.
DeMar is not a guard!!!
I think the positional grouping is pointless anyway. LeBron plays every position except SG, Durant plays every position on the court, Jokic is a functional PG on offense. Giannis facilitates and plays in what ever position they need him to on Defense. So many players play multiple positions depending on matchup. The All Star ballot should just be vote for the 5 guys you want to start regardless of position in each conference.
DeRozan has earned it this yr, congrats bro.
Does KD still get to be a captain and pick his side even if he doesn’t play?
Sounds exactly like me on 2K.
Pick the team, makes the trades them sim yo the playoffs
I had as the starters for the EC…
Trae, Harden, KD, Giannis & Embiid (Sabonis in for KD)
As this stage the next highest voted front court player is Jayson Tatum. So he naturally should replace KD.
Not sure how many players make up the bench but I’d like to see LaMelo Ball get through.
I’m guessing the rest of the bench players would be ..
Harden, LaVine, FVV, Butler, Allen, Randle, Bam and Bridges.
For the west the bench player should be ..
Doncic, Booker, CP3, AD, KAT, Gobert, Ingram and Mitchell
TBH I would take Darius Garland over any of those.
On my EC “take” team: Garland, Embiid, Butler, Durant, one of the Balls, and Caruso sixth man.