“I wanted to win MVP,” said Tatum, who said that the award trophy was named after his childhood hero, Lakers great Kobe Bryant. “I didn’t think I’d get 55. That’s the icing on the cake.”
James posted 13 points, one rebound and four assists in 14 minutes before sitting out the second half due to a finger injury that he said “[wasn’t] you worry too much.” Despite missing crunchtime after hitting his hand on the rim while blocking a shot, James was always involved, taking part in a live, playground-style draft with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to select the team’s rosters and then honored at halftime with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone, the second and third all-time leading scorers in the NBA.
“No matter the challenge, no matter the noise, he was relentless,” said former Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade as he introduced James to loud applause at halftime. “He is not just a four-time MVP or a 19-time all-star or a gold medalist or an NBA champion. He is a son, father, husband and friend. Now he is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.”
James, Abdul-Jabbar and Malone then stood side by side, hugging and waving to the crowd. By earning the 19th all-star selection of his career, James tied Abdul-Jabbar for the most in league history. His 19 all-star appearances are a record.
“I didn’t have a chance to watch Kareem live, but I know the history of the game,” said James. “I got a chance to watch a lot of Karl Malone’s games live. To see how they take the court with their ability – you have Malone’s physical game, but he also has the finesse in his midrange jump shot, along with his ability to run the floor. Kareem’s game [is] a unique game that no one has ever tried to patent or try to steal. They were especially dominant in their times. I was standing among these men, and it was a surreal feeling.
In the NBA’s unconventional all-star format, teams compete quarter-by-quarter for charity. They were tied at 46 in the first quarter; Team Giannis won the second quarter, 53-46, and took the third quarter, 59-49.
The clock is turned off for the fourth quarter as the teams try to reach the total target score of 182 points as part of the “Elam Ending,” which ensures that each contest ends with game-winning points. . The increased effort that usually comes in the fourth quarter never happened, and Tatum acknowledged that the contest had a “safety first” feel as players tried to avoid postseason injuries around the corner.
Tatum broke Anthony Davis’ All-Star Game record of 52 points recorded in 2017. With 27 points in the third quarter, the St.
“[The all-star scoring record] means the world,” he said. “Records are meant to be broken. I’ll hold on to them as long as I can, but I’m sure someone will come along and break them.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who won the three-point contest on Saturday, clinched the victory with a deep three-pointer after several half-court moves by Team Giannis were badly missed. While the All-Star Saturday slate ended with a euphoric crowd reaction to Mac McClung’s unexpectedly thrilling slam dunk contest performance, some fans began filing out midway through the fourth quarter of the showcase. on Sunday, showing no defensive effort.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell added 40 points, four rebounds and 10 assists for Team Giannis. Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid scored 32 points each for Team LeBron.
“That is the worst basketball game ever played,” said Team LeBron Coach Michael Malone.
This year’s All-Star Game opened with a new twist: James and Antetokounmpo picked their rosters individually as part of the pregame show. To minimize the embarrassment associated with the final selection, the NBA and the players’ union agreed that the captains would choose their seats before choosing their starters.
“We thought it was an interesting experiment,” said Commissioner Adam Silver. “Thought it would just add a little more excitement to it.”
Antetokounmpo chose Lillard as the first choice of the reserves — to James’ surprise, because Jrue Holiday, Antetokounmpo’s Bucks teammate, was on the board. James later selected Embiid with the first pick among the starters, and Antetokoumpo followed Tatum.
“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Antetokounmpo explained. “Capable scorer, as he showed. We talked a little. I know he will play hard.”
The draft had its share of funny interludes, including Antetokounmpo mistakenly trying to select Ja Morant in the reserves round even though the Memphis Grizzlies guard was slated to be the starter.
“Giannis tries anything, y’all,” James joked.
After Jaren Jackson Jr. the last selected reserve, Denver’s Nikola Jokic made sure he wouldn’t suffer the same fate as the starters. Jokic jumped out of his seat early before James made his final selection, leaving Utah’s Lauri Markkanen confused when he realized he was the last one on stage.
When Antetokounmpo finished his drafting duties, he took the court with a wrap protecting his injured right wrist. The two-time MVP fumbled on the first possession and then checked to avoid further damage, saying he had to make a “tough decision but a mature decision” so he could maximize his availability for the run in Milwaukee. Although he spent most of the night cheering from the sidelines, the seven-time all-star claimed his first win in three tries as a captain.
“Winner, winner, chicken dinner,” a smiling Antetokounmpo said.