SOURCE SPORTS: Giannis and LeBron Headline NBA All-Star Starters

The NBA has announced the starting lineups for the upcoming 2024 NBA All-Star Game, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the Eastern Conference and LeBron James leading the Western Conference as captains. The league is reverting to the traditional East vs. West format for the 73rd NBA All-Star Game scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18.

Joining Antetokounmpo in the East is Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and teammate guard Damian Lillard. Joining James in the West is Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

This is the 20th straight All-Star selection for James, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most in the history of the NBA.

“I give credit and a lot of respect to my fans who have been along with me through this whole 21-year journey,” James said Thursday night. “And voting me in as an All-Star starter for the 20th-consecutive time, just very humbled. Very blessed to be able to do what I love to do and just try to give back, give back to the game that’s given me over two decades. So, to be able to know this is the first time ever in NBA history to have this many All-Star starts or whatever the case might be, it’s very cool.”

Starters were determined through a combination of fan votes (50%), current NBA players’ votes (25%), and a media panel (25%). TNT is set to reveal the reserves on Thursday, February 1, at 7 ET. The 30 NBA coaches will select the 14 reserves, considering two guards, three frontcourt players, and two players at any position in their respective conferences. Commissioner Adam Silver will choose replacements from the same conference for any players unable to participate.

In today’s digital age, the synergy between sports and social media is unmistakable, with a basketball association’s popularity directly influencing its social media presence. This trend is exemplified by the “NBA All Star” official Instagram account (@NBAAllStar). Analysis by CasinospotDK reveals that from December 31, 2023, to the end of January 2024, @nbaallstar’s followers increased from 1,990,581 to 2,012,287, marking an addition of 21,706 new followers in just three weeks. This change in subscribers reflects a growing interest in the event, but also opens the way to expanded monetization opportunities, which can be used for charitable purposes or to develop sports in the country. For instance, the price for a sponsored post on the @nbaallstar Instagram account could range between $2.79M and $4.19M, presenting a significant revenue stream.