Giannis Antetokounmpo selected as starter, team captain of Eastern Conference NBA All-Star team
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Giannis Antetokounmpo has been selected a starter and the team captain of the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star team for 2019.
The Greek Freak, @Giannis_An34, selected STARTER and TEAM CAPTAIN for @NBAAllStar 2019!!#FearTheDeer | #NBAAllStarpic.twitter.com/gDobnQtvKP
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 25, 2019
Among all players in the NBA, Antetokounmpo received the most player votes (269), the second-most fan votes (4,375,747) and tied for the second-most media votes (99). This is the Greek Freak's third NBA All-Star appearance and he will be the first player in Bucks history to start three consecutive All-Star Games.
Making his 3rd #NBAAllStar appearance... @Giannis_An34 of the @Bucks! #FearTheDeer#GiannisAntetokounmpopic.twitter.com/hWzNsigDWp
— 2019 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 25, 2019
“Being named a starter and captain for the All-Star Game is a tremendous honor for Giannis as he continues to assert himself as one of the premier players in the NBA,” said Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. “Giannis has an incredible work ethic and is a leader for the team on and off the court. We are thrilled that he has been deservedly recognized again as one of the league’s All-Stars.”
The Eastern Conference @NBAAllStar Starters Pool! @Giannis_An34@KyrieIrving@KembaWalker@kawhileonard@JoelEmbiid#NBAAllStarpic.twitter.com/bLwuc8d6sV
— NBA (@NBA) January 25, 2019
By receiving the most votes among Eastern Conference players, Antetokounmpo will be one of two captains for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, along with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
The Western Conference @NBAAllStar Starters Pool!@KingJames@JHarden13@StephenCurry30@Yg_Trece@KDTrey5#NBAAllStarpic.twitter.com/PnkabEbUVm
— NBA (@NBA) January 25, 2019
Antetokounmpo and James will select the players for “Team Giannis” and “Team LeBron” from the eight other All-Star Game starters that were announced today and a pool of reserve players selected by NBA head coaches, which will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 31. The draft for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7, and will be broadcast on TNT.
In his sixth NBA season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.5 points (9th in the NBA) and career-highs in both rebounds (12.6, 6th in the NBA) and assists (5.9) per game, leading the Bucks to the best record in the NBA. He’s also shooting a career-best 57.8 percent from the field (10th in the NBA). Antetokounmpo is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game this season, and is on pace to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1972-73) as the only players in NBA history to average 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 55.0 percent or better from the field over the course of a season.
Joining Antetokounmpo and James as starters for the 68th NBA All-Star Game are Stephen Curry (Golden State), Kevin Durant (Golden State), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Paul George (Oklahoma City), James Harden (Houston), Kawhi Leonard (Toronto), Kyrie Irving (Boston) and Kemba Walker (Charlotte). Fans, players and media determined the starters for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, with fans accounting for 50 percent of the vote while the players and media accounted for 25 percent each.