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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From the time the NBA designated the two players with the most fan votes from the East and West as All-Star Game captains, allowing them to select their teams, the suspense and tension heightened significantly. It appeared as though everyone in the basketball community was eagerly anticipating the pivotal moment:
Who’s the last pick?
LeBron James and Kevin Durant apparently don’t have much faith in the team currently leading the league, despite their best record. LeBron, in his explanation, added a bit more fuel to the fire in a light-hearted manner.
The Utah Jazz are not being defamed. Similar to our experience with video games during our childhood, we never chose Utah. Despite the extraordinary talents of Karl Malone and John Stockton, we never selected those players in video games.
In conclusion, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were the last two players to be selected in the 2021 All-Star Draft on Thursday, with Mitchell being chosen before Gobert. This can be likened to remaining in the green room on draft night, except it’s considerably less intimidating.
The Jazz capitalized on a successful February to climb in the Western conference standings, significantly assisted by their two All-Stars. They now have new motivation to prove their critics wrong, if they choose to use it. While Mitchell and Gobert have the chance to silence doubters, Malone and Stockton can only observe from their couch.
The draft for LeBron-KD turned out to be fairly predictable. Giannis Antetokounmpo was Team LeBron’s first pick among the starters, while James Harden was Team Durant’s first choice among the reserves.
LeBron selected Paul George from the Clippers, but with a caveat: “This will be the only time I’ll be cheering for him and his team.”
In any case, the distribution of players has led to intriguing scenarios, matchups, and team-ups for Sunday’s game, which we delve into here:
Point guard advantage, Team LeBron
As the Warriors and Mavs face off, lead guards Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic share a laugh.
If point guards are primarily responsible for creativity in All-Star Games – which is logical, as they control the ball and generally determine the next move – then Team LeBron is highly likely to win the majority of style points. It’s worth noting that in an All-Star format, style points are almost as significant as actual points.
Team LeBron boasts five point guards, or six if you include LeBron himself, while Team Durant only has one traditional point guard, Kyrie Irving. This count increases to two if you consider Harden, who despite not being officially listed as a point guard, is likely to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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 astutely ensured the continuity of Brooklyn’s Notorious B.I.G. Three, a decision that would have been even more advantageous if he was actually able to participate. At the very least, Durant did well in maintaining the duo of Irving and Harden, allowing them to further develop their chemistry within the Nets, even if it was at the cost of the All-Star Game. Are Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid, potential playoff opponents of the revitalized Nets, aware they’re being strategized against by their All-Star captain?
Truce, or consequences
After years of intense and occasionally personal competition, Clippers swingman Paul George and Blazers guard Damian Lillard will join forces this Sunday.
The most delightful subplot involves the pairing of Lillard and George, implying that a member of Team LeBron must step in to mediate what appears to be a somewhat unstable and potentially uncomfortable situation.
Just to remind you: During the previous fall in the bubble, George ridiculed Dame on social media for missing crucial free throws towards the end of a game, sparking a dispute between the two stars. Dame coolly reminded everyone of his iconic 35-foot puppet-wave buzzer-beater that knocked George out of the playoffs a few years earlier. George later had a tough time in the bubble and was heavily criticized on social media by those clearly in Dame’s corner.
Time often mitigates, if not pacifies, any rage, yet Dame, being one of the league’s most egotistical players, also believes in a conspiracy theory that he is being underappreciated. It’s important to note that it was Doncic, not Dame, who was chosen by fans to start the All-Star Game, which was the most recent blow to Dame’s self-esteem.
Four years ago, Durant and Russell Westbrook, former teammates from Oklahoma City, participated in the All-Star Game together. However, their relationship had been strained due to Durant’s departure to the Warriors, leading to a well-known feud through the midseason classic. Their discord was evident as they avoided speaking at All-Star team functions and maintained distance in the locker room and on the bench. Harden, who is friends with both, tried to mediate the situation that weekend. They merely acknowledged each other casually during the game.
So, who will be designated as the peacemaker for Dame-PG? The most likely choice is LeBron, as this is typically a role for captains, correct?
LeBron and Curry, teammates at last
Both of them have a reciprocal respect for each other, and in recent history, there have been numerous significant instances where they outshone each other during the postseason (with Curry having an edge over LeBron if we consider titles as the ultimate measurement tool). Seeing them in the same uniform will indeed be a refreshing sight. This game, as well as they, surely deserve such a moment.
LeBron and Giannis, teammates at last
Last year, they served as captains, which is only one factor that makes this pairing intriguing. Another noteworthy point is that Giannis has bagged the last two Kia MVP awards, with the most recent one leaving LeBron in the second place, who expressed dissatisfaction over his count of first-place votes.
However, they won’t need a mediator like Dame and PG do, so there’s that advantage.
The best two centers square off
Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, being on rival All-Star teams, are expected to create an intense showdown at the center position.
Isn’t it fantastic that Nikola Jokic and Embiid will be competing against each other instead of being on the same team? This is exactly the way it should be, particularly this season, as both of these towering players are contenders for the MVP awards due to their impressive performances.
Embiid is demonstrating dominance on both sides of the court not witnessed from a center since Hakeem Olajuwon. Concurrently, Jokic is amassing triple-doubles at an almost unparalleled pace for a center, proving that size doesn’t hinder the ability to lead a team, or at the very least, be the focal point of the offense.
Thus, those are the peripheral events to the main spectacle. LeBron is currently on a triumphant streak of three games as captain, and with KD not participating, there’s nothing he can personally do to halt this progress.
To put it in a broader context: there are no longer any complaints about the game. Furthermore, the game being held in Atlanta will result in honor and funding for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Sunday will be solely dedicated to 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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