The NBA announced on Thursday that notable participants such as Luka Doncic, James Harden, and Jimmy Butler have been included in the reserve picks for the 2022 All-Star Game, which will feature Team James and Team Durant.
Here is a look at how the rosters for both conferences play out before LeBron James and Kevin Durant divvy up the All-Star players in the draft.
Western Conference StartersFrontcourt: LeBron James, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola JokicBackcourt: Ja Morant, Stephen Curry.
Western Conference ReservesFrontcourt: Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Draymond GreenBackcourt: Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell.
The Eastern Conference’s frontcourt starters consist of Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, while DeMar DeRozan and Trae Young hold the backcourt positions.
Eastern Conference ReservesFrontcourt: Jayson Tatum, Khris Middleton, Jimmy ButlerBackcourt: James Harden, Zach LaVine, Darius Garland, Fred VanVleet.
Notable Snubs.
Eastern Conference: Jarrett Allen, LaMelo Ball.
Western Conference: Dejounte Murray, Anthony Davis.
Cleveland will be on the court on 20th February, but it is unclear whether Durant or James will be playing for their respective teams. While the teams’ names will remain the same, Durant has been ruled out due to an injury since 25th January, and James has been out of the lineup with swelling in his knee.
In a fortnight, both teams in this upcoming year will have captains who are unable to participate due to physical limitations. Since transitioning to its new structure, Durant also sat out last year’s All-Star Game due to a hamstring injury, making him the inaugural captain to be absent from the showcase.
Participating in the spectacle, it’s difficult to envision him being absent from the game arriving in Cleveland for the initial occasion in James’ professional life. However,
If LeBron James ends up without a teammate suiting him well, he will be doing so for the second time in just the last decade. Thanks to the extended absence of Anthony Davis, largely due to injury, the Lakers’ disappointing record has left them among the most surprising names left off the Western Conference list.
Unless chosen by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as a substitute due to injury, he will be absent from the game, marking the first time in his NBA career since 2013.
Harden has been the sole dependable presence in the roster for Brooklyn, as Durant has been absent due to a knee injury and Kyrie Irving has been mostly absent throughout the season due to his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Durant is accompanied by his teammate James Harden, who was chosen for his tenth participation in the lineup.
Zach LaVine joins teammate DeMar DeRozan for the East-leading Bulls, who have been one of the NBA’s most surprising stories this season.
Durant might be replaced on the first line, and the big man has been a nightly double-double all season. Jarrett Allen did not get a second selection in the center, but they are represented by Darius Garland, who makes his first appearance as a point guard. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who enter Thursday’s game behind the Bulls in the standings, are the most surprising team of the 2021-22 season so far.
Murray Dejounte, who belongs to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference, has emerged as one of the best two-way guards in basketball. He averages 19.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, regularly locking down the opponent’s top defense while also recording 2.0 steals.
Due to a back injury, Green declared on Thursday that he will not be taking part in the All-Star Game, and it appears probable that Silver will choose Murray as his substitute.