Lakers’ LeBron James makes history with 20th All-Star selection

LeBron James became the first player to be named to 20 All-Star teams Thursday night, when he was selected for the Western Conference as part of the league's unveiling of the 10 starters for next month's All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

James, who passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star nods in NBA history, was joined in the West by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai. Gilgeous-Alexander.

“I give credit and a lot of respect to my fans who have been with me throughout this 21-year journey,” James said after the Lakers' 141-132 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. “And to have me voted an All-Star starter for the 20th time in a row, it's just very humbling. Very lucky to be able to do what I love to do and just try to give back, give back to the game that I love. gave the upper hand.”

In the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the voting and was joined by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and guard Bucks Damian Lillard.

This is the second All-Star selection and first start for Haliburton, who represents the host Pacers, and Gilgeous-Alexander.

“It means everything to me,” Haliburton said. “Thank you to all the fans, my peers and the media for the love I have received, and I am excited to represent the organization, especially with the event here in Indiana this year. Looking forward to sharing this weekend with everyone who played a role in helping me achieve this honor.”

James, in his 21st NBA season, continues to defy Father Time, averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists for the Los Angeles Lakers, breaking Abdul's mark -Jabbar just under a year after surpassing his once seemingly unbreakable career. scoring record.

Kudos to him, man. He's a victim of his own work and his own success,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bulls. “It's crazy. I was thinking about it to myself, like, 'Damn, he'll never have an All-Star weekend to himself, just so he doesn't have obligations.' And to do that for 21 years, it's like, holy, man. Like, oof. But that's his job. He put in that work. He's maintained that consistency, that durability. And I'm happy for him.”

James added: “I exceeded everything I ever dreamed of in the NBA. And I did it a long time ago. Everything else is just some sort of extra credit. I'm very honored to be able to continue playing the game I love and have these accomplishments along the way. »

Meanwhile, this will be the 14th All-Star appearance for Durant; eighth for Antetokounmpo and Lillard; seventh for Embiid; sixth for Jokic; and fifth for Doncic and Tatum.

There was little drama during the voting in either conference. Totals among fans has barely changed from week to week, with Antetokounmpo, Embiid and Tatum far ahead of the pack of frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference; Haliburton walks the field among the Eastern guards; and James, Jokic and Durant far ahead of the pack in the West's frontcourt.

The only places where there was some surprise were the second guard spot in the East, where Trae Young and Lillard have gone back and forth among fan votes in recent weeks; and among the three guard spots in the West, where Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry were closely grouped in each of the three rounds of voting.

Ultimately, however, it was Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander who finished first and second among media and player votes, respectively, to edge out Curry. Lillard, meanwhile, finished well ahead of Jalen Brunson in the fan vote to earn the starting spot alongside Haliburton in the East.

While there hasn't been much drama over the starters, who will coach both teams will likely be held back until Feb. 4, with the standings that day determining who will be sidelined. Last year's selections – Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics and Michael Malone of the Nuggets – are not eligible because coaches cannot be chosen two years in a row. Three teams are within a game in the loss column in the West – the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thunder and LA Clippers – while the Bucks and 76ers are tied in the loss column in the East.

The Bucks, in particular, would pose an unusual circumstance, with Doc Rivers taking over this week for the fired Adrian Griffin. It's the same scenario that happened in 2016, when current Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, then the Cavaliers coach, took charge of the All-Star Game after replacing David Blatt mid-season.

Last season, the voted starters were Antetokounmpo, Tatum, Durant, Donovan Mitchell and Kyrie Irving in the Eastern Conference, and James, Jokic, Doncic, Curry and Zion Williamson in the West, although Durant and Williamson ended up missing the match because of injuries.

This year's game, which will be played on February 18, will see the NBA return to its traditional East versus West format, after announcing earlier this season that it was abandoning the captains structure which saw the top vote-getters from each conference choose their respective teams.

Each conference's reserve selections, to be voted on by NBA head coaches, will be announced on TNT on February 1.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.