2023 NBA All-Star Game roster announcement: LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo voted in as team captains

With more than half of the 2022-23 season in the books and the All-Star Game approaching, it's time to name the starters for the league's mid-season exhibition. Those starters were determined by a vote divided amongst fans (50 percent), media (25 percent) and players (25), and on Thursday, those starters were announced on TNT with an assist from the accounting firm Ernst and Young. With two guards and three front-court players coming from each conference, the following 10 players have been selected:

Eastern Conference starters

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (captain)
  • Kevin Durant
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Kyrie Irving
  • Donovan Mitchell
Joining Giannis as starters from the Eastern Conference are Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell. The clear snub here is Joel Embiid, but there was always going to be an odd man out considering the four best players in the conference are all frontcourt players, and there are only three spots. Irving has been spectacular since his return from suspension, while Mitchell has helped turn the Cavs into a serious contender. 

Western Conference starters

  • LeBron James (captain)
  • Nikola Jokic
  • Zion Williamson
  • Stephen Curry
  • Luka Doncic
Joining LeBron in the frontcourt as starters from the Western Conference are Nikola Jokic and Zion Williamson, while Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic have made it in the backcourt. Jokic has a chance to become the fourth player to ever win three MVPs in a row, while Doncic is also in the conversation for that award. Curry and Williamson might be as well, but they've dealt with injuries and have missed too much time -- though not too much to make it in as starters. 

Record-tying 19th All-Star appearance for LeBron

This will be the 19th All-Star appearance for LeBron James, who only missed out in his rookie season. That ties Kareem-Abdul Jabbar for the most All-Star Games in NBA history, and is also the most consecutive appearances ever. Just another note in the record books for one of the greatest to ever do it.