The 2021 NBA All-Star Game will be held in Atlanta on March 8. Originally, Indianapolis was chosen as the venue, but due to conflicts with the 2021 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, the All-Star Game was shifted to Atlanta, which will be hosting the event for the first time since 2003 and also its third time.
All the leading stars of the NBA will be under one roof, on one court, battling it out in an exhibition game, whose proceedings will be given to a designated NGO. There will be two teams – the eastern conference and the western. While LeBron James will be captaining the western, Kevin Durant will lead the eastern.
Same like other years, the starters in both conferences were selected by fans, media and players. The reserves, on the other hand, were selected by the NBA’s head coaches; injury replacements were selected by the nba commissioner adam silver.
Now, that the roster is out, let’s look at the eastern conference squad.
Starters
Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
He leads the league with 33.2 points per game. The only other player to average more than him in a single season is James Harden with 36.1 in 2018-19 and 34.3 in 2019-20.
Kyrie Irving, G, Brooklyn Nets
Irving is one of the five players who are en route to the exclusive 50-40-90 club. In shooting, he has 51.4% from the field, 40.9% from the 3-point range and 89.3% from the free-throw line.
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid has been automatic from midrange, going 85-for-167 (50.9%). Only four players have more midrange shots than him.
Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
Tatum has three go-ahead baskets in the final five seconds of a game this season, the most in the league.
Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
Durant has 29.0 points per game. This is the most he has avergaed since 2013-14. In shooting, he has 52.4% from the field and a career-best 43.4% from 3-point range.
Reserves
Jaylen Brown, G, Boston Celtics
James Harden, G, Brooklyn Nets
Zach LaVine, G, Chicago Bulls
Ben Simmons, G, Philadelphia 76ers
Julius Randle, F, New York Knicks
Domantas Sabonis, F, Indiana Pacers
Nikola Vucevic, C, Orlando Magic
Although Durant is injured and will not be participating, he will still be the captain.
How will the game happen?
The All-Star Game will follow the 2020 format. The team to score most points during each of the first three 12-minute quarters will receive a cash prize.
The fourth quarter will not be timed. The first team to meet or exceed a ‘target score’- the score of the leading team in total scoring after three quarters plus 24 – will be crowned the champions.
