LeBron goes # 1 in All-Star Draft and Barkley goes after international flair with his team

LeBron James was drafted # 1 – again.

And while one day the NBA is considering having an American vs. World Format for its mid-season exhibition window, there will also be a taste of what it could be on this year’s All-Star game.

James, the player with the most all-star appearances in the NBA story, was selected No. 1 gathered for February 16 competition in San Francisco. The All-Star draft was held at TNT, with analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley, who chose the teams.

“Old and legendary,” said O’Neal. “I want to go with LeBron Eduardo James.”

James’ actual middle name is Raymone, but O’Neal has a habit of putting together middle names for people. Either way, the 21-time all-star was No. 1 election, just as he was when he entered the NBA in 2003.

And to this all-star-game-or game as it will be the case- NBA made up a new format. The NBA was determined to try to make the event more competitive, and the NBA made the All-Star game a tournament: The 24 All-Stars were prepared on one of three eight-man guards.

Barkley went with players who all have international ties: Nikola Jokic from Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada, Victor Wembanyama from France, Pascal Siakam from Cameroon, Alperen Sengun from Turkey, Karl-Anthony Town are Dominican) and Donovan Mitchell (whose mother is Panamanian).

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the league has been thinking of an American vs. World Games – but noticed that it would be complicated to make the schedule fair. If it was the traditional format, with 12-man guards, it would be easier for international players to be declared All-Stars. About 70% of the players in the NBA are American; About 30% are international.

“It can be a bit of an old -fashioned concept for me where we come in as Americans and say, ‘We’re taking the world on.’ I’m not sure how well it would be received by our international players, ”Silver said. “We are experimenting with a new format this year. I haven’t given up all-star that is still competitive, entertaining games for the fans. It certainly wasn’t what we were (last) year. “

Last year’s game was the highest scored in All-Star History, a 211-186 final that was basically all 3-Pointers and Dunks.

This year’s All-Star will be a four-team tournament: The winner of the Rising Stars competition for first and second year players on February 14 will be the fourth team in the All-Star event. There will be two semi-final games, then winners will play for the All-Star Championship and the first team for 40 points in these games wins.

The winning Rising Stars team, moving on to the All-Star game, is called Team Candace, to Candace Parker. The others will be Team Shaq, Team Kenny and Team Charles.

The following is a collapse of the guards, with the player’s total election place in parentheses:

Team Shaq

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1); Stephen Curry, Golden State (5); Anthony Davis, Dallas (9); Jayson Tatum, Boston (10); Kevin Durant, Phoenix (14); Damian Lillard, Milwaukee (18); James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers (19); Jaylen Brown, Boston (24).

Team Kenny

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota (2); Jalen Brunson, New York (6); Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis (7); Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City (11); Darius Garland, Cleveland (15); Evan Mobley, Cleveland (16); Cade Cunningham, Detroit (20); Tyler Herro, Miami (23).

Team Charles

Nikola Jokic, Denver (3); Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee (4); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City (8); Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio (12); Pascal Siakam, Indiana (13); Alperen Sengun, Houston (17); Karl-Anthony Towns, New York (21); Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland (22).