2021 NBA All-Star Game: Starters include four international players with Embiid, Jokic, Antetokounmpo , and Doncic receiving call ups
Olympic champions LeBron James and Kevin Durant will captain the two teams in the 70th NBA All-Star Game that will take place on March 7 in Atlanta
Basketball
The 2021 NBA All-Star Game starters have been confirmed, with basketball legends LeBron James and Kevin Durant taking up duties as team captains.
Lebron will lead the Western Conference with Durant taking the helm in the East.
Each of the teams also have two international stars selected in their five starters, for the Game on Sunday 7th March in Atlanta.
2021 NBA All-Star Game: Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic for Western Conference
There are two international selections in the Western Conf side, with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks both picking up starting places.
They're joined by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, as well as LeBron. All three could line up for Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.
It’s the third time that Jokic of Serbia has picked up a selection.
Doncic, also from Serbia, starts his second consecutive All-Star game.
Serbia are yet to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. They are scheduled to begin their attempt on June 29 2021.
2021 NBA All-Star Game: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid for Eastern Conference
In the eastern conference line-up, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is set to make his fifth appearance in the All-Star Game.
Giannis has the highest scoring average in All-Star Game history at 27.3 points per game.
Greece are also not yet qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo with Giannis likely to feature in the qualification process.
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers has picked up his fourth consecutive selection.
The Cameroonian has never played for his national team, who are currently 64th in the world rankings and not qualified for the Olympic Games.
They line up alongside Americans Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards, currently NBA scoring leader, and Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets as starting guards. Durant, also of the Nets, will make his 11th career appearance in the showpiece matchup.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association also confirmed that the All-Star game will generate more than $2.5 million (USD) for historically Black U.S. colleges and COVID-19 relief efforts.