The city of Los Angeles will host the 2018 NBA All-Star Game on February 16. The All-Star game was amazing in the era of Magic, Bird, and Jordan. Post-Jordan, the All-Star game lost its luster. The players don’t play defense except for the last five minutes of the game. All-Star Saturday night and the sneakers players wear in-game are more important than what conference wins. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the Players Union changed the selection process in hopes of re-invigorating fan interest. The two leading vote-getters in the league are team captains and just like in a pickup game, pick their respective squads. This year, LeBron James captain’s the East team and Stephen Curry leads the West. TNT’s Inside the NBA breaks down the storylines heading to the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.

The All-Star Draft Will Be a Secret

Team captains will select their teams behind closed doors. Therefore, NBA fans won’t get to see the drama if King James snubbed his former Cavs’ teammate Kyrie Irving from his team. What will happen if Stef picks ‘The Beard’ over Kevin Durant? It would be incredible, but the NBA won’t be televising the draft. We call foul and some players agreed. James and Wizards’ PG John Wall told USA Today, “We’re all grown men,” he said. “It doesn’t stop your paycheck from coming.” John Wall added, “They should let it be known,” We’re grown men, like (LeBron) said. If they ain’t pick you, they ain’t pick you.” Fans want to see the draft and have started a hashtag on Twitter #televisethedraft. Commissioner Silver responded this way.

@TasMelas talks to Commissioner Adam Silver in London about the All-Star draft, shortening the Playoffs, and resting players. #TheStarters pic.twitter.com/lTrs2Y881o

— Handles (@HandlesNBATV) January 11, 2018

The All-Star Starters

The East starters are Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Toronto Raptors G DeMar DeRozan, Boston Celtics G Kyrie Irving, and Philadelphia Sizers C Joel Embiid.

The West starters are Houston Rockets G James Harden, Golden State Warriors F Kevin Durant, and New Orleans Pelicans C/Fs Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

The All-Star Reserves

2018 All-Star Reserves (East)

2018 All-Star Reserves (West)

The All-Star Snubs

Pistons’ center Andre Drummond and OKC’s Paul George were two of the most high-profile All-Star snubs this year. However, F&TS believes the biggest snub was Lou Williams of the LA Clippers. The guy is all buckets. Drummond wasn’t happy about missing out on the honor. He posted his reaction on Twitter. Russell Westbrook was also unhappy. He stuck up for his teammates PG-13, who is one of the best two-way players in the league.

Guess I gotta start doing back flips after every point I score to get attention around here!

Lmao on to the next

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) January 24, 2018

Russell Westbrook called it “outrageous” that Paul George was not named an All-Star: pic.twitter.com/62vmKKbFSx

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 24, 2018

NBA News and Notes

The participants for the 2018 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest are almost set. Orlando Magic F Aaron Gordon will be in the contest for the third consecutive year. In 2016, Gordon and eventual dunk champ Zack Lavine put on a head-to-head showdown for the ages. Gordon will be joined by Pacers’ All-Star Victor Oladipo, Dallas Mavericks’ rookie Dennis Smith Jr., and one more competitor. Larry Nance Jr. of the Lakers is the rumored last competitor.

League-leading vote-getter LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30,000 points on Tuesday night.

Kristaps Porzingis is the second youngest New York Knicks All-Star.

Rookie Dennis Smith Jr. is already one of the NBA's best dunkers.

He showed why last night with The CW's @blacklightning Electric Play. pic.twitter.com/US53CR3zn8

— ESPN (@espn) January 23, 2018