The Game Day has compiled the 2021 NBA All-Star Game Preview & Picks. We will also include 2021 NBA All-Star MVP predictions. 2021 All-Star Sunday will be a unique one, with the NBA Three-Point Contest and NBA Skills Challenge taking place pregame. The NBA Dunk Contest will take place at halftime.
Check out our full 2021 NBA All-Star Game Weekend Preview:
- 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Preview & Pick
- 2021 NBA Three-Point Contest Preview & Pick
- 2021 NBA Skills Challenge Contest Preview & Pick
- 2021 NBA All-Star Break Injury Updates
2021 NBA All-Star Game
2021 NBA All-Star Game: When You Can Watch
The 2021 All-Star Game tips off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 7. However, the festivities begin at 6:30 p.m including the NBA Skills Challenge, the NBA Three-Point Contest. The Slam Dunk contest will take place at halftime.
2021 NBA All-Star Game Rosters
After last season’s success, the NBA All-Star Game will follow a similar format to last year’s event. The two All-Star teams, Team LeBron (LeBron James) and Team Durant (Kevin Durant), will compete quarterly for their respective beneficiaries. The fourth quarter will be untimed and teams will play to a final target score, meaning that the game will end with a made basket instead of the clock running out.
James and Durant have selected their squads. Durant will miss the game due to ongoing recovery from a hamstring strain, so Jayson Tatum will take his place in the starting lineup.
Team LeBron
STARTERS
- LeBron James (Captain), F, Los Angeles Lakers
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks
- Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors
- Luka Doncic, G, Dallas Mavericks
- Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
RESERVES
- Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers
- Ben Simmons, G, Philadelphia 76ers
- Chris Paul, G, Phoenix Suns
- Jaylen Brown, G/F, Boston Celtics
- Paul George, G/F, Los Angeles Clippers
- Domantas Sabonis, C, Indiana Pacers
- Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
Kevin Durant will miss the 2021 NBA All-Star Game due to a hamstring injury. He’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by Boston Celtics F Jaysom Tatum. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Team Durant
STARTERS
- Kyrie Irving, G, Brooklyn Nets
- Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
- Kawhi Leonard, G, Los Angeles Clippers
- Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
- *Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
*Captain Kevin Durant is still recovering from a hamstring strain and will be replaced by Tatum in the starting lineup.
RESERVES
- James Harden, G, Brooklyn Nets
- *Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
- Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans
- Zach LaVine, G, Chicago Bulls
- Julius Randle, F, New York Knicks
- Nikola Vucevic, C, Orlando Magic
- Donovan Mitchell, G, Utah Jazz
*Booker will fill in for Los Angeles Lakers F Anthony Davis (Achilles’).
2021 NBA All-Star Game Preview
The NBA All-Star Game is all about who can put the ball in the basket the quickest and the most. And Team LeBron fits that mold.
Even in the new format, the All-Star game is a high-scoring affair with some of the best athletes on the planet competing with their friends from around the association. This year’s over/under total is set at 308.5.
Team LeBron is filled with bucket-getters. LeBron paired himself with Antetokounmpo, Curry and Lillard, three of the NBA’s most lethal scorers. Sprinkle in Jokic and Gobert down low for some high-flying rebounds and put-back dunks, and Team LeBron stacks up nicely.
Durant took the approach of finding some of the best two-way talents in the NBA, along with his Brooklyn teammates Irving and Harden.
The fresh, young legs of Durant’s bench unit consisting of Mitchell, Williamson, LaVine and Booker will give LeBron’s bench a huge challenge.
2021 NBA All-Star Game Prediction
Team LeBron 161, Team Durant 157
The stacking of James, Antetokounmpo, Curry and Lillard can hurt you in more ways than just one. Add in a promising young star in Doncic and some veteran All-Star experience in Paul and Team LeBron comes out on top of a fun night.
2021 NBA All-Star MVP
Best Bet: LeBron James
Even in Year 18, LeBron James looks like he is still in his prime. He has been without fellow Los Angeles star Anthony Davis for several games and will be without him for the All-Star game.
It’s in LeBron’s nature to take over games whenever he feels needed, and with the new format, look for James to try and take over offensively put away a game in the untimed fourth quarter. He’s the clear 2021 NBA All-Star MVP favorite.
Sleeper: Devin Booker
This week, James tweeted that Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in the NBA after Phoenix’s guard was snubbed from the All-Star Game. However, Booker will be filling in for the injured Davis on Team Durant.
The NBA All-Star Game is all about scoring and Booker can certainly provide that. Look for the other All-Stars to get Booker involved, especially in the fourth quarter. A Booker MVP night would make for a great end to 2021 All-Star Sunday.
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