2020 NBA All-Star Game starters announced: LeBron James, Giannis named captains

Christmas Day in the NBA is not just a day for the league to take over the sports calendar and showcase its best teams and players in a number of prime-time games. It’s also the start of voting for the All-Star Game, and now, nearly a month later, the polls are closed, votes have been tallied and we know the 10 starters for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

Just as a reminder, fan voting accounts for only 50 percent of the final voting tally. Coaches and players also send in votes of their own, and those account for 25 percent each. Also, because the league doesn’t do the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format anymore, the teams are picked by captains. The two players with the highest number of fan votes win that honor, and this time around it was Milwaukee Bucks superstar, and reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Now, here are the 10 starters (while the game isn’t played in a East vs. West format, the players are still selected via conferences to keep representation equal):

Eastern Conference

POSITION PLAYER TEAM
Frontcourt Giannis Antetokounmpo* Milwaukee Bucks
Frontcourt Pascal Siakam Toronto Raptors
Frontcourt Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers
Backcourt Kemba Walker Boston Celtics
Backcourt Trae Young Atlanta Hawks

*Captain

Western Conference

POSITION PLAYER TEAM
Frontcourt LeBron James* Los Angeles Lakers
Frontcourt Anthony Davis Los Angeles Lakers
Frontcourt Kawhi Leonard Los Angeles Clippers
Backcourt Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks
Backcourt James Harden Houston Rockets

*Captain

The next step to complete the All-Star rosters will be the selection of the reserves. All of those picks are made by coaches, who will choose seven players — three frontcourt, two guards, two wild cards — from each conference. Those results will be announced next week on Jan. 30.