NBA: LeBron James picks Kevin Durant, former Cavaliers teammate Kyrie Irving for All-Star Game

LeBron James will play alongside Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant and former teammate Kyrie Irving in next month’s NBA All-Star Game, it was revealed on Thursday. Cleveland Cavaliers icon James, who this week became only the seventh player in NBA history to pass 30,000 points, captains a powerful starting line-up against opposite number Stephen Curry’s selection. [caption id=“attachment_4151615” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of LeBron James (left) and Kyrie Irving, who will play in the same team at the 2018 All Star game. AP[/caption] As well as Durant and Irving, James will be joined by New Orleans’ in-form duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Kevin Love (Cleveland), Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers), Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks), John Wall (Washington) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) are reserves. Curry’s team meanwhile will feature Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and James Harden of the Houston Rockets. Curry’s roster of reserves includes Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Al Horford (Boston), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Kyle Lowry (Toronto), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) and Golden State teammates Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. The 67th NBA All-Star Game will be staged at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, 18 February. The format for the All-Star game was tweaked this year, with the two players polling the most votes — James and Curry — chosen as captains. They then picked their own teams by taking turns from a pool of players selected as starters and reserves, regardless of conference affiliation. James’ team — Team LeBron — will be coached by the head coach with the best record from the Eastern Conference in games through 4 February. Curry’s team will adopt the same policy in picking their coach from the Western Conference. Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Golden State’s Steve Kerr are both ineligible because they coached in last year’s All-Star Game.