Looking ahead to the 2023 NBS All-Star game

The 72^nd NBA all-star game is set to take place in Utah in just under 2 weeks’ time. The two teams will be captained by Lebron James, returning for his 19^th, record-breaking, all-star appearance his team will face 2-time MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 5. The specific players of each team will be decided on game night via a draft in which both captains will choose from a pool of players, selected previously by fans, media and current players within the league.  

Starters from the Western Conference, alongside Lebron, include back-to-back MVP Nicola Jokic, this season’s scoring leader Luka Doncic, Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, and lastly Stephen Curry. The 4-time champion is, however, expected to miss the game due to an injury received to his left leg in a game against the Dallas Mavericks, it can be expected that Ja Morant or perhaps Damian Lillard will take Curry’s place as a starter, with the reserve spot left open by Curry’s departure, yet to be filled. Selected from the Eastern Conference with Giannis is 13-time all-star Kevin Durant who will take to the floor having missed the last two all-star games due to injury. Additionally, former Brooklyn teammate Kyrie Irving, who is appearing in his 8^th game, will play just days after leaving Durant in Brooklyn via a trade to play for Dallas.  

Boston’s Jason Tatum and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, two players both having career-high years, are the last two to make up the list. The game is set to take place on Sunday 19^th at 6 pm in Utah, which will be around 1 am Monday morning GMT for UK viewers. The list of reserves is of course packed with talent, with some players making a great case to be starters. Philadelphia Centre Joel Embiid, like Luka Doncic, is averaging 33 points a game. Much to the dismay of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal who mentioned on TNT’s Inside the NBA that Embiid ‘should be starting Centre for the Eastern Conference.’  

The brand of basketball played in the All-star game can account for calls like this, as a faster-paced, laxer defending, predominately guard-dominated game, leaves fans more eager to lend their vote to players like Durant or Tatum, who are more susceptible to play more of an exciting outside game, in an event that is more show than competition. Among the reserves, sees first-time all-stars Lauri Markkanen of the host team Utah Jazz, Jaren Jackson Jnr, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers.  

The face of the league, Lebron James is set to enter this game as the NBA’s all-time scoring record holder, passing up retired lakers centre Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. An outstanding accomplishment for one of the game’s all-time top 2 players. Lebron has never lost as captain since its inception into the game in 2018, a year in which he won the games MVP award. As Lebron will want to give that record up come all-star weekend as the stage is set for this spectacle of entertainment to grace the Vivint Arena.