(Basketball news) The 2023 NBA All-Star Game is all set to take place on February 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. This season will mark the 30th anniversary of the first NBA All-Star Game which was first hosted by the Utah Jazz in 1993. NBA All-Star Weekend will start on Feb. 17, with the celebrity game and Rising Stars Challenge. NBA All-Star weekend will feature the skills challenge, 3-point contest and slam dunk contest. 

The NBA All-Star starters were announced on Jan. 26th as this will be the sixth consecutive season in which the All-Star Game will uses a “draft” format, in which each conference’s top vote-getter will get to serve as a captain and draft a roster from the remaining 22 players selected by the NBA pundits and fans.This will be the first year in which the draft will be just moments before the start of the game as a live segment.

This year’s All-Star Game will also be the fourth game to use the target score as the score of the leading team after the third quarter, plus first to reach 24 points in the fourth quarter as it will be played without a game clock. The All-Star starters were revealed as Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will be team captains. Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff will coach Team Giannis while Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone will coach Team LeBron.

James has been a captain in each of the five seasons in the NBA since they started using this format. He has been drafted against Curry, Antetokounmpo (twice) and Durant (twice) but Team LeBron has won the past five All-Star Games. Team LeBron is set to play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and Team Giannis will play for Raise the Future as they will raise more than $750,000 for the Utah community.

STARTERS

Eastern Conference

Coach: Joe Mazzulla and staff, Boston Celtics

Giannis Antetokounmpo, C, Milwaukee Bucks

Kyrie Irving, G, Brooklyn Nets

Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets

Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics

Western Conference Starters 

Coach: Michael Malone and staff, Denver Nuggets

LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers

Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets

Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors

Luka Doncic, G, Dallas Mavericks

Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans

Reserves

Eastern Conference

Jaylen Brown, G, Boston Celtics

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Demar DeRozan, G, Chicago Bulls

Julius Randle, F, New York Knicks

Jrue Holiday, G, Milwaukee Bucks

Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers

Bam Adebayo, F, Miami Heat

Western Conference

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers

Paul George, G, Los Angeles Clippers

Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz

Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Memphis Grizzlies

Domantas Sabonis, F, Sacramento Kings

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