Team LeBron vs Team Giannis
When: Sunday, February 16th, 2020
Where: United Center,
Chicago, Illinois
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Team LeBron -5/302
This year’s NBA All-Star Game will be much different than any other that we’ve seen in the past and maybe a little somber at times. This year’s edition will be honoring the late Kobe Bryant in a very unusual format change. On Jan. 26 in the Los Angeles area, former Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash. Bryant’s death is going to linger over the rest of this NBA season without question as he was one of the greatest that ever played. Kobe made 18 All-Star Games, second to Kareem-Abdul Jabbar (19), and Bryant’s four All-Star Game MVP Awards are a record. The ASG is still four quarters of basketball, but Team LeBron and Team Giannis will compete to win each of the first three quarters, still the standard 12 minutes, for charities in the Chicago area as selected by James and Antetokounmpo. The game will start with a score of 0-0, and so do the second and third quarters, making them three mini games. The fourth quarter will not have a game clock. Instead, it will be the first team to a cumulative target score of 24 additional points on top of what the leading team had through three quarters. The number 24 was what Kobe wore the final 10 seasons of his career. Every player on Team LeBron will wear No. 2 in honor of Kobe’s late daughter Gianna, while all members of Team Giannis will wear 24.
Team LeBron Roster:
#2 | Captain
LeBron James
25 PPG, 10.8 APG, 7.8 RPG
Los Angeles Lakers
#2 | Forward-Center
Anthony Davis
26.6 PPG, 3.3 APG, 9.2 RPG
Los Angeles Lakers
#2 | Guard
James Harden
35.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, 6.5 RPG
Houston Rockets
#2 | Forward
Kawhi Leonard
27.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, 7.4 RPG
LA Clippers
#2 | Forward-Guard
Luka Doncic
28.9 PPG, 8.7 APG, 9.5 RPG
Dallas Mavericks
RESERVES:
#2 | Guard
Devin Booker
26.4 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.2 RPG
Phoenix Suns
#2 | Guard
Chris Paul
17.5 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5 RPG
Oklahoma City Thunder
#2 | Guard
Damian Lillard
29.5 PPG, 7.9 APG, 4.4 RPG
Portland Trail Blazers
#2 | Center
Nikola Jokic
20.6 PPG, 6.9 APG, 10.2 RPG
Denver Nuggets
#2 | Guard-Forward
Ben Simmons
16.9 PPG, 8.3 APG, 7.9 RPG
Philadelphia 76ers
#2 | Forward-Center
Domantas Sabonis
18.3 PPG, 4.8 APG, 12.5 RPG
Indiana Pacers
#2 | Forward-Guard
Jayson Tatum
22.1 PPG, 3 APG, 6.9 RPG
Boston Celtics
#2 | Guard
Russell Westbrook
27.2 PPG, 7.2 APG, 8 RPG
Houston Rockets
COACH
Los Angeles Lakers
Team Giannis Roster:
#24 | Captain
Giannis Antetokounmpo
30 PPG, 5.8 APG, 13.5 RPG
Milwaukee Bucks
#24 | Center-Forward
Joel Embiid
22.9 PPG, 3.2 APG, 11.9 RPG
Philadelphia 76ers
#24 | Forward
Pascal Siakam
23.5 PPG, 3.5 APG, 7.5 RPG
Toronto Raptors
#24 | Guard
Kemba Walker
21.8 PPG, 5 APG, 4 RPG
Boston Celtics
#24 | Guard
Trae Young
29.7 PPG, 9.2 APG, 4.4 RPG
Atlanta Hawks
RESERVES:
#24 | Center-Forward
Bam Adebayo
15.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, 10.4 RPG
Miami Heat
#24 | Forward
Brandon Ingram
24.9 PPG, 4.2 APG, 6.4 RPG
New Orleans Pelicans
#24 | Guard
Donovan Mitchell
24.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 4.3 RPG
Utah Jazz
#24 | Forward
Jimmy Butler
20.6 PPG, 6.1 APG, 6.8 RPG
Miami Heat
#24 | Center
Rudy Gobert
15.6 PPG, 1.5 APG, 14.6 RPG
Utah Jazz
#24 | Guard
Kyle Lowry
19.6 PPG, 7.6 APG, 4.7 RPG
Toronto Raptors
#24 | Forward
Khris Middleton
20.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, 6.1 RPG
Milwaukee Bucks
COACH
Nick Nurse
Toronto Raptors
Look, it’s really hard to handicap an All-Star Game when players aren’t trying their hardest, nor do they play any defense. On top of that, the format is completely unique. I would just enjoy the game and the honoring of Kobe Bryant. Just for fun, I’ll take Team Giannis and the points.
Pick: Team Giannis +6
