Predicting LeBron James’ and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s picks for 2023 NBA All-Star Game

On Friday, the NBA announced the Western and Eastern conference reserves for the 2023 All-Star Game. Last month, the starters have been unveiled along with the team captains who’ll be picking the players NBA Draft style moments before the February 20 tip-off. That responsibility has been given to LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo after coming out as the league’s top two vote-getters.

With that, we did an All-Star mock draft in behalf of King James and the Greek Freak and this is how it went.

First off, the starters. 

1st pick

Since LeBron got the highest number of fan votes, he gets to pick first. And he used it on a generational talent like he is in Steph Curry.

2nd pick

Giannis’ top pick is Jayson Tatum. He’s been dunked on by the Celtics star a couple times. Giannis just wants to play beside him for a change.

3rd pick

LeBron picks Kevin Durant. The trio of LBJ, Chef Curry, and the Slim Reaper is just too lethal to pass up on.

4th pick

Giannis selects Luka Doncic. With Luka Magic’s superb playmaking, the 2021 NBA champion should have an easier time scoring off pinpoint passes from all angles.

5th pick

For pick no. 5, James taps Cleveland Cavaliers' top gunner Donovan Mitchell. A guy who can score 71 in a single game can carry the offensive load in any setting, and the 38-year-old team captain likes the sound of that.

6th pick

For the sixth pick, Giannis selects do-it-all center Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets to beef up his team’s playmaking from the frontcourt. And to complete that international flavor, too. 

7th pick

For the seventh pick of the 2023 All-Star Draft, LeBron selects Kyrie Irving. He just wants a reunion and maybe, take a break from dealing with Pat Bev.

8th pick

Giannis selects Zion Williamson. No offense meant but Giannis literally has no other choice here.

Next, we go to the reserves. 

9th pick

To make things fair, Giannis gets the first pick among the reserves and he chooses Joel Embiid. For sure, the Bucks superstar would want NBA’s current leading scorer (33.5 PPG) on his side.

10th pick

LeBron selects a guy who would love to dunk on Joel Embiid’s head. We’re talking about Ja Morant, a guy who loves to dunk on anybody’s head.

11th pick

Giannis loves his teammates. He selects Jrue Holiday. Wait, did Giannis just turn Jrue into a nepo baby?

12th pick

Away from LA for the time being, LeBron can quench his thirst for shooters. For this pick, the King calls on Dame Lillard to solidify his team’s splash ability.

13th pick

Giannis selects his fellow European big man Domantas Sabonis. The 2-time MVP, like everybody else, knows that the Kings’ versatile pivot is a tough matchup for anyone.

14th pick

LeBron picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As a great passer, the King at times could defer to the OKC Thunder main man to provide firepower.

15th pick

Giannis is secretly trying to make this a Europe vs USA game so he’s picking Finland-born stretch Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz.

16th pick

LeBron is secretly a huge fan of Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton fan so he’s picking him here.

17th pick

Like with Tatum, Giannis has seen enough of Jaylen Brown in the playoffs. Here, he grabs the chance to team up with another fearsome rival from Boston.

18th pick

In a last-ditch effort to recruit DeMar Derozan to the Lakers, LeBron uses his next pick on the midrange master.

19th pick

Giannis selects Paul George. LeBron has yet to beat PG13 as a Clipper and maybe, Giannis has taken note of that.

20th pick

GM LeBron’s masterplan worked as he plucks Bam Adebayo—a mega steal at no. 20.

21st pick

Giannis selects Julius Randle of the New York Knicks. It seemed a to be a no-brainer given the other choice he had.

22nd pick

And the last pick goes to LeBron. He gets the MoSt dEserVinG All-star this year in Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

Who ya got?