NBA All-Star starters announced

The NBA released its All-Star game starters for 2019 with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as team captains. The game is set to be played in Charlotte, North Carolina on Feb. 17.

James is making his 15th All-Star game appearance. James will be joined by Steph Curry (sixth selection), Kevin Durant (10th selection), Paul George (sixth selection) and James Harden (seventh selection) as the starters from the Western Conference.

Curry owns the Golden State team record for consecutive All-Star game starts with six after this selection. Durant is an All-Star for the 10th season in a row and is a starter for the eighth time. George is happy to be back as a starter, even with James in the West. Harden now is third in Rockets history in All-Star selections behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming.

Antetokounmpo is making his third All-Star appearance and has been a starter for three consecutive years in the game. He is joined by Joel Embiid (second selection), Kyrie Irving (sixth selection), Kawhi Leonard (third selection) and Kemba Walker (third selection).

Embiid is making his second consecutive start in the All-Star game. Irving led the Eastern Conference guards in fan voting for the third year in a row. Leonard’s selection gives Toronto a All-Star game starter for the fifth consecutive year. Walker is just the second player in Hornets history to make at least three All-Star games.

The reserves for the All-Star game will be announced on Thursday, seven from each conference, selected by the coaches, on TNT at 5 p.m. James and Antetokounmpo will pick players for their teams on Feb. 7 in a televised All-Star draft on TNT at 5 p.m.