Thu Feb 6 7:47pm ET
Field Level Media
LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be teammates once again -- not with the Los Angeles Lakers, but on "Team Shaq" in the 2025 All-Star Game.
"Inside the NBA" analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley on Thursday drafted the teams for which they're serving as honorary captains in the All-Star Game's new format.
O'Neal picked James with the first overall choice. Smith picked Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards second overall.
"Team Chuck" has plenty of size with former MVPs Nikola Jokic (third overall pick) and Giannis Antetokounmpo along with Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. This will be Wembanyama's first All-Star Game.
O'Neal added former MVPs Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden, but his most intriguing decision was to take Davis with his third selection. James and Davis won a championship together with the Lakers in 2020, but Los Angeles has struggled since, and Davis was shipped to Dallas in a stunning trade for Luka Doncic over the weekend.
NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.8 points per game) is on Team Chuck.
The event is shifting to a four-team tournament with a pair of semifinal games and a final. The fourth team, made up of the best first- and second-year players and G League stars, will be called Team Candace and captained by WNBA legend Candace Parker.
The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 16 in San Francisco.
The full rosters are below, in order of player selection:
Team Shaq:
LeBron James, L.A. Lakers
Stephen Curry, Golden State
Anthony Davis, Dallas
Jayson Tatum, Boston
Kevin Durant, Phoenix
Damian Lillard, Milwaukee
James Harden, L.A. Clippers
Jaylen Brown, Boston
Team Kenny:
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota
Jalen Brunson, New York
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City
Darius Garland, Cleveland
Evan Mobley, Cleveland
Cade Cunningham, Detroit
Tyler Herro, Miami
Team Chuck:
Nikola Jokic, Denver
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio
Pascal Siakam, Indiana
Alperen Sengun, Houston
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) has been upgraded to probable for Monday's game against the Utah Jazz and is expected to return after missing Saturday's contest against Indiana. In his last outing, James dominated with 42 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists against Golden State, and fantasy managers will be hoping for another strong performance. However, the spotlight will likely be on Luka Doncic, who is set to make his Lakers debut, making this a must-watch game as two generational talents take the floor together.
Denver Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook (hamstring) will miss a sixth straight game on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers. The former MVP has yet to take the court this month due to a hamstring strain, and there is currently no timeline for his return. The injury has come at an unfortunate time for Westbrook, who had carved out a solid role for himself as a starter. Christian Braun has rejoined the first unit during Westbrook's absence, putting together an impressive five-game stretch. He has averaged 18.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals over that span.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (calf) has been upgraded to probable for Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. Doncic has been out since Christmas Day with a calf strain but appears on track to return. However, after a long layoff, he could have some minutes restrictions. The superstar guard remains one of the best stat-sheet stuffers in the league, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game this season. Fantasy managers and Lakers fans will be eager to see how he looks in his return. Check back later for official confirmation on his status.
Charlotte Hornets center Jusuf Nurkic is not on the injury report on Monday, indicating that he will be in the lineup against the Brooklyn Nets. The big Bosnian is finally eligible to make his debut with his new crew. Mark Williams is not with the team, and Moussa Diabate (eye) is questionable to suit up, meaning we might see plenty of Nurkic on Monday. It's a good matchup for him against a team that allows the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (personal) will miss Monday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After putting up 30-plus points twice over the past three games, McCollum needs to skip Monday's action for personal reasons. Three-point sniper Jordan Hawkins may get an opportunity to impress in the first unit with McCollum unavailable. Hawkins has averaged 20.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in his previous five starts this season. McCollum's absence also opens up additional scoring opportunities for the rest of the starters.
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's contest against the Brooklyn Nets. Ball recently returned from an ankle sprain but did not play against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday when Charlotte began a back-to-back. KJ Simpson will likely make way for Ball in the starting lineup. In his first game back from injury, Ball recorded 24 points, four rebounds, and 10 assists across 36 minutes in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. He appears ready to handle his regular workload on Monday.
According to Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site, Boston Celtics guardJrue Holiday(shoulder) is unavailable for Monday's matchup with the Miami Heat. Holiday won't suit up for the third straight game due to a right shoulder impingement. The 34-year-old next opportunity to get back on the floor comes on Wednesday against the Spurs. With Holiday out this evening, sharpshooter Payton Pritchard will likely take on extra minutes off the bench. Veteran center Al Horford could also remain in the starting lineup until Holiday is back in action.
Washington Wizards forwardKyshawn George(ankle) is available to play Monday against the San Antonio Spurs. He was listed as questionable earlier in the day but no longer carries a tag. George was sidelined Saturday against the Hawks due to a right ankle sprain. Before missing Saturday's contest, the 21-year-old rookie registered two straight games of posting 17 points. He should also see plenty of scoring opportunities this evening, playing over 30 minutes in his last two outings.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (calf) is questionable for Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. Although he's not a lock to suit up, at least according to the official NBA injury report, multiple reports suggests he'll be out there on Monday night. Doncic hasn't played since the Mavs' loss to the Timberwolves on Christmas Day. As a result, he could see a reduced workload, at least for a few games. However, Doncic is a must-start in all fantasy formats, especially since he will be eager for an impressive showing in his Lakers debut.
According to Lisa Salters of ESPN and ABC, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) may need another surgery. While the organization hasn't reported this, it appears the 2023 NBA MVP is gearing up for another surgery to address a nagging left knee issue that has been ailing him for quite some time. It's unknown if and when a procedure could take place. But it appears the knee injury is more severe than initially believed. Embiid has only appeared in 15 games this season and was listed as questionable heading into Sunday's loss to the Detroit Pistons. For now, fantasy managers should expect occasional time off for Embiid, at least for the foreseeable future. But it's definitely something to monitor in the weeks and months ahead.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (hip) is questionable for Monday's game in Cleveland. Edwards missed the February 1 loss to the Washington Wizards because of an illness, his first absence of the 2024-25 campaign. However, he missed Saturday's meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers because of a sore hip. As a result, Nickeil Alexander-Walker entered the starting lineup and ended with 21 points. Yet, it was Jaden McDaniels who led the way, with the 24-year-old finishing with a game-high 30 points. If Edwards remains on the shelf, both Alexander-Walker and McDaniels could continue to see an uptick in production.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (ankle) is questionable for Monday's game against the visiting Kings. Washington returned for Saturday's win over the Rockets after missing three games. But he logged only 16 minutes due to a sprained ankle. With Anthony Davis (Adductor) sidelined, Washington could move back to the four spot if he's available. But either way, it appears Naji Marshall, who had 16 points on Saturday, could find his way back into the starting lineup.
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (Adductor) won't play on Monday night versus Sacramento. AD made his Mavericks debut on Saturday versus the Rockets. He had an excellent showing, amassing 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks. Unfortunately, Davis suffered an Adductor strain in that one and was ruled out for the remain of the contest. It's unknown how much time he'll miss. If P.J. Washington (ankle) suits up, he'll likely slide back to the four spot. But if Washington is also out, Naji Marshall, who had 16 points on Saturday, should continue to benefit from an offensive standpoint.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (finger) is questionable for Monday's matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He didn't suit up for Saturday's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers because of a finger injury. As a result, Rob Dillingham entered the starting lineup, finishing with eight points, six assists, and two steals in 23 minutes of work. If Conley remains sidelined on Monday night, Dillingham will presumably remain at the one. However, Anthony Edwards' (hip) potential return could significantly cap the rookie's fantasy potential.
Milwaukee Bucks' G Damian Lillard scored 43 points on 14-of-27 shooting in a 135-127 win over the 76ers on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Detroit's G Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 112-102 win over the Hornets on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (ankle) is available for Sunday's matchup with Charlotte. He wasn't available for Friday's win over the 76ers. As a result, Malik Beasley entered the starting lineup and finished with 36 points, a career-high. But with Cunningham back in the Mix, Beasley will head back to the bench, which should lower his fantasy potential.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) won't play on Sunday against Detroit. In Friday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, the 23-year-old had 24 points and 10 assists. He popped up on Sunday's injury report due to ankle soreness, so it seems there's a good chance he'll be back on Monday in Brooklyn. With Nick Smith Jr. (back) also sidelined, Miles Bridges should take over as Charlotte's top offensive option. In addition, KJ Simpson, who had 15 points, three assists, and one steal in his only start of the season, definitely deserves starting consideration in all fantasy setups.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined for 2-3 weeks because of a calf strain. The injury will also force him to miss the All-Star game. The 30-year-old has already been sidelined for four games. However, the last revelation from Haynes certainly is even worse news for fantasy managers. Without Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis will likely remain in the starting lineup at the four. Portis has played well while Antetokounmpo has been out, even more so in the last two games, combining for 49 points, 32 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals, giving him added value from a fantasy standpoint.
Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Schroder (trade pending) is available for Sunday's matchup with the Hornets. The veteran has bounced around the National Basketball Association this season, suiting up for the Nets and Warriors before getting shipped to the Pistons ahead of the deadline. While he could have a rough time finding consistent minutes in Detroit, he should at least overthrow Marcus Sasser for the spot behind Cade Cunningham (ankle). With that said, Schroder should have spells of efficiency moving forward, although he likely won't be a consistent fantasy performer. Unfortunately, his ceiling might decrease significantly if Jaden Ivey (leg) can work his way back from a broken Fibula.
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