NBA All-Star 2021: Bradley Beal selected last among original starters, will play on “Team Durant”

On Thursday, Los Angeles Lakers guard LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant held their draft for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. The first round consisted of selecting the eight remaining starters. Because Durant isn’t playing in the game due to injury, the first pick among the reserves (who was ninth overall) was also a starter.

After all the picks were made, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal was selected eighth, or last among the eight officially named starters. He will be on “Team Durant.”

Though Beal was the last original starter to get drafted, the ninth pick, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was named a starter. So if you look at it, Beal wasn’t the last official starter. But still, that’s gotta give him a chip on his shoulder.

The full rosters are below:

Team LeBron

Starters

• G: Stephen Curry
• G: Luka Doncic
• F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• F: LeBron James
• F: Nikola Jokic

Bench

• G: Damian Lillard
• G: Ben Simmons
• G: Chris Paul
• G: Jaylen Brown
• F: Paul George
• F: Domantas Sabonis
• F: Rudy Gobert

Team Durant

Starters

• G: Kyrie Irving
• G: Bradley Beal
• F: Jayson Tatum (was the ninth player overall and promoted to a starter)
• F: Kawhi Leonard
• F: Joel Embiid

Bench

• G: James Harden
• G: Devin Booker
• G: Zach LaVine
• G: Donovan Mitchell
• F: Zion Williamson
• F: Julius Randle
• F: Nikola Vucevic

The 2021 NBA All-Star Game will be in Atlanta on Sunday, Mar. 7. Gametime is at 8 p.m. ET.