LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo — captains for this month’s NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte — picked their rosters in a draft on TNT Thursday evening.
Here are the complete All-Star rosters for Team LeBron and Team Giannis (after their finalized trade): pic.twitter.com/seH2LjPTdf
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 8, 2019
Normally, said draft wouldn’t make news. That’s until we realize the strategy James employed in picking against Antetokounmpo.
James’ first three selections are all impending free agents. He went with Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant first overall before adding Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard with the next two picks. Then, later in the draft, LeBron went with Warriors star Klay Thompson.
If that weren’t enough, James added Anthony Davis to his roster. At that point, Giannis had an amazing reaction.
#TeamLeBron picks Anthony Davis. #TeamGiannis “Isn’t that tampering?” pic.twitter.com/Qi7fywlKGe
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) February 8, 2019
We don’t need to be geniuses to realize exactly what this means. Rumors continue to persist that Durant might bolt the Warriors for another NBA city this offseason.
While that might be overblown, said rumors have not been lost on James. Meanwhile, Leonard, Thompson and Davis have all obviously been linked to the Lakers.
As it relates to Kyrie Irving, the current Boston Celtics star left the door open regarding a potential reunion with his former teammate in Cleveland.
Needless to say, this was not lost on the masses.
So, it's LeBron & the Free Agents vs. Giannis and the others. Lol
Giannis's team definitely has the size, plus human flamethrower in Steph, but LeBron's team will probably win again
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 8, 2019
So LeBron took every free agent and Giannis took every international player. I love the NBA
— Justin Rowan (@Cavsanada) February 8, 2019
GM LeBron James is basically putting together the 2020 Lakers. pic.twitter.com/Tlth5LTT7u
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 8, 2019
That was the biggest win LeBron’s gonna have all season.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/1093666074200027141?s=20
LeBron James wants you to know he can tamper so well he can do it on national television.
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) February 8, 2019
LeBron drafted Kyrie for his All Star team 🤫 pic.twitter.com/fWBuu8jeZS
— Overtime (@overtime) February 8, 2019
LeBron really chose Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Kawhi Leonard for his All-Star team pic.twitter.com/XtXg5dJHZc
— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 8, 2019