2021 NBA All-Star Draft: 5 key takeaways
Kevin Durant and LeBron James provide a summary of their teams for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.
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Since the NBA started assigning All-Star Game captaincy to the two players with the highest fan votes from the East and West, allowing them to pick their teams, anticipation and tension grew immensely. It felt like the entire basketball community was holding its breath in anticipation of the grand reveal.
Who’s the last pick?
LeBron James and Kevin Durant appear to not have much faith in the team currently boasting the best record in the league. To add insult to injury, LeBron, in a light-hearted manner, made his point even sharper by explaining:
The Utah Jazz is not being slandered. Just as we never chose to play as Utah in video games when we were younger. Despite the greatness of Karl Malone and John Stockton, we never selected those players in video games.
To sum it up, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were the last two players selected in Thursday’s 2021 All-Star Draft, with Mitchell being chosen first. This situation is akin to being left in the green room on draft night, albeit on a less intimidating level.
The Jazz significantly improved their position in the West standings due to a robust performance in February, greatly supported by their two All-Stars. They will certainly have new motivation to prove themselves, if they decide it’s valuable to use. Mitchell and Gobert have the opportunity to disprove their doubters, while Malone and Stockton can only observe from their couch.
The draft between LeBron and KD otherwise unfolded predictably. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the first starter picked, going to Team LeBron; while James Harden was the first reserve picked, going to Team Durant.
LeBron selected Paul George from the Clippers, but included a caveat: “This will be the only time I support this guy and his team.”
In any case, the distribution of players has resulted in some intriguing situations, matchups, and team-ups for Sunday’s game. We break down these developments here:
Point guard advantage, Team LeBron
Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic, the lead guards, share a laugh as the Warriors and Mavs prepare to face off.
If point guards primarily generate creativity in All-Star Games – which is understandable, as they usually have the ball and control subsequent events – then Team LeBron is the clear front-runner for winning most of the style points. As you’re aware, in an All-Star format, style points are nearly as significant as actual points.
Team LeBron boasts five point guards, or six if you include LeBron himself, in comparison to Team Durant which only has one natural point guard, Kyrie Irving. Team Durant also features Harden, who, despite not being recognized as a point guard in the Hall of Fame, could be considered as a second.
Chris Paul, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard and Ben Simmons will each trigger more than a few fast breaks and lob passes and how-did-he-do-that passes headed straight for YouTube. Team LeBron therefore ranks as Sunday’s likely leader in video starts.
Brooklyn 1-2-3
Durant shrewdly managed to keep Brooklyn’s renowned B.I.G. Three together, which would have been even more advantageous if he were able to actively participate. Regardless, Durant’s effort to retain Irving and Harden for further chemistry development in the Nets was commendable, even if it was at the cost of the All-Star Game. It raises the question if Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid, potential playoff contenders against the revitalized Nets, are aware of the strategic move by their All-Star captain.
Truce, or consequences
After years of intense and occasionally personal rivalry, Clippers swingman Paul George and Blazers guard Damian Lillard will join forces this Sunday.
The most intriguing subplot is the pairing of Lillard and George, implying that a member of Team LeBron will need to act as a mediator in what appears to be, at least on the surface, a rather delicate and potentially awkward situation.
Just to refresh your memory: During the bubble last fall, George ridiculed Dame on social media for missing late-game free throws, sparking a feud between the two basketball stars. Dame coolly retorted by reminding everyone about how he ousted George from the playoffs a few years prior with his legendary 35-foot, puppet-wave buzzer-beater. Following this, when George had difficulties in the bubble, he was mercilessly criticised on social media by people who were fully in Dame’s corner.
Time often helps to heal, or at least soothe, any kind of anger. However, Dame, being one of the more prideful players in the league, holds the belief that he is not receiving the respect he deserves. It’s important to recall that it was Doncic, not Dame, who was selected by fans to start the All-Star Game – a recent blow to Dame’s pride.
Four years ago, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook shared the court as teammates in the All-Star Game, but their strained relationship was clearly visible. The two, who were former teammates at Oklahoma City, saw their bond break when Durant departed for the Warriors, leading to a well-known feud throughout the midseason showcase. They refrained from talking to each other during All-Star team gatherings and maintained a distance in the locker room and on the bench. James Harden, who is friends with both, tried to mediate the situation that weekend. The only interaction between them during the game was casual acknowledgements.
So, who will be assigned as the peacemaker for Dame-PG? The most likely contender is LeBron, as that is the role of a captain, correct?
LeBron and Curry, teammates at last
They have a shared respect for each other and have had many significant moments in the postseason where they each outshone the other, with Curry gaining the upper hand if we measure by titles. Therefore, it will be a refreshing change to see them playing on the same team for once. This game warrants such a spectacle, and they too, deserve it.
LeBron and Giannis, teammates at last
Last year they served as captains, which is just one element that makes this pairing intriguing. Another reason is that Giannis has claimed the last two Kia MVP awards, with the most recent one being won over LeBron, who came in second and voiced his dissatisfaction with the number of first-place votes he received.
However, unlike Dame and PG, they will not need a mediator, so that’s something.
The best two centers square off
Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are on rival All-Star teams, promising a formidable showdown in the center.
Isn’t it exciting that Nikola Jokic and Embiid will compete against each other instead of playing as teammates? As it should be, particularly this season, where both towering players are vying for the MVP awards due to their stellar seasons.
Embiid’s dominance at both ends of the floor is reminiscent of a performance not seen from a center since Hakeem Olajuwon, while Jokic is proving that size is not a hindrance to managing a team or being the focal point of offense through his near unprecedented rate of triple-doubles for a center.
Thus, those are just the peripheral events to the main event. LeBron is currently on a winning streak of three games as the captain, and KD, being unable to play, cannot personally intervene to halt this streak.
In essence, no one is expressing grievances about the game anymore. As a result of the game being held in Atlanta, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities will receive honor and funding. Moreover, Sunday will be solely for amusement and enjoyment.
Even the Jazz will enjoy it.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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