NBA All-Star Game preview (Who is playing in All-Star Game?)

The ever-evolving NBA All-Star Game takes on a new twist this season.

The two captains at the All-Star Game, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, will draft their teams just before tip off. The NBA went to drafting teams in 2018 and has maintained that structure ever since, typically drafting in a televised event days prior to the game.

Now, the league is going to do it right before tip in a true pick up game atmosphere. Before we share how it works and who is playing in the game, here are the very early odds for this game — we only know which team James and Antetokounmpo are on — ahead of the 67th All-Star Game.

NBA All-Star Game odds

NBA All-Star Game participants

While the selection process followed conference affiliations, the draft will not as the two captains will alternate drafting each player until the rosters are set regardless of who plays on each conference.

It’s worth noting that while they were not selected, Pascal Siakam, De’Aaron Fox and Anthony Edwards will be replacing Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Zion Williamson in the All-Star Game due to injury.

Considering those three were starters, Joel Embiid will start for the Eastern Conference while Lauri Markkanen and Ja Morant will fill in as Western Conference starters.

Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla will coach Team Giannis while Nuggets coach Michael Malone will coach Team LeBron.

NBA All-Star Game rules

The game will be a standard NBA game through three quarters, but the fourth quarter will take on the Elam Ending.

After three quarters the team in the lead will need to reach their score plus 24 points (in honor of Kobe Bryant) in order to win. The team trailing will need to make up the difference between the two teams after three quarters in addition to the 24 points.