The rumors turned out to be true: Stephen Curry will not play on the same team as Kevin Durant.
Relax. Of course, we’re talking about the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, N.C. on Feb. 17, where the Warriors’ stars were split up Thursday night when the team rosters were picked by team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Check back in a few months, after free agency begins in July, to find out whether Curry playing against Durant becomes the new reality or not.
James was rumored to be eyeing Durant with his top pick during the All-Star draft for the second straight year, and King James got his man again. Team LeBron also added Klay Thompson and Oakland native Damian Lillard of the Blazers as reserves.
As the top vote-getters in each conference, James and Antetokounmpo earned the honor of drafting their own All-Star teams. And Thursday night brought a new twist to the process since it was nationally televised on TNT.
They both grabbed a Warrior to start their teams. After James drafted Durant, Antetokounmpo immediately called on Curry to help anchor Team Giannis.
The biggest pre-draft intrigue didn’t involve who would be picked first overall, but who would be the last player chosen from among the 22 All-Stars. The Wizards’ Bradley Beal wound up being the last All-Star taken, by Team LeBron.
The draft’s first round consisted of James and Antetokounmpo alternately selecting players from the other eight All-Star starters, with no regard to conference designation or positions. James got the No. 1 pick since he was the leading overall vote-getter.
After the two Warriors stars were off the board, Team LeBron took Kyrie Irving of the Celtics (3rd overall) and followed it with Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard (5th overall) and Houston’s James Harden (7th). Team Giannis countered with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (4th overall), Oklahoma City’s Paul George (6th) and Kemba Walker (8th and final starter) from the hometown Hornets.
The real fun began in the second phase of the draft, when the 14 All-Star reserves chosen by the coaches — seven from each conference — were dispersed. James, whose agency was fined $50,000 for tampering while trying to steer fellow client Anthony Davis to the Lakers via trade, got his wish for at least one game. He’ll play with the Pelicans star, who LeBron took with his first pick among the reserves.
TNT commentator Ernie Johnson playfully asked James if he was sure he really wanted Davis as a teammate.
“I’m very sure of that,” James said, with a laugh.
Antetokounmpo countered with a question of his own, wondering “isn’t that tampering?” An amused James assured all that tampering rules don’t apply on All-Star Weekend.
James and the Lakers may not have been able to acquire Davis at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, but LeBron did pull off an All-Star Game trade. He convinced Team Giannis to trade him the 76ers’ Ben Simmons in exchange for the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.
So much for fans seeing Durant and Westbrook play on the same All-Star squad for a second straight season.
In order of their selections, Team LeBron’s reserves are Davis, Thompson (4th reserve overall), Lillard, Simmons (via trade), the Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge, the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns and Beal.
Team Giannis used the first pick of the second round to take Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo’s Bucks teammate. In order, the other Team Giannis reserves are Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Westbrook (via trade), Detroit’s Blake Griffin, Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell, Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry.
Special All-Star roster additions Dwyane Wade of the Heat (Team LeBron) and Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks (Team Giannis) were then selected to round out the two teams.
TEAM LEBRON STARTERS: LeBron James (Lakers), Kevin Durant (Warriors), Kyrie Irving (Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (Raptors), James Harden (Rockets).
TEAM LEBRON RESERVES: Anthony Davis (Pelicans), Klay Thompson (Warriors), Damian Lillard (Blazers), Ben Simmons (76ers), LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), Bradley Beal (Wizards).
TEAM GIANNIS STARTERS: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Joel Embiid (76ers), Paul George (Thunder), Kemba Walker (Hornets).
TEAM GIANNIS RESERVES: Khris Middleton (Bucks), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Russell Westbrook (Thunder), Blake Griffin (Pistons), D’Angelo Russell (Nets), Nikola Vucevic (Magic), Kyle Lowry (Raptors).
