Round Two:
Team LeBron: James Harden, SG, Rockets
2020 marks the 8th straight All-Star appearance for the Rockets guard and 4th straight start. He’s officially a All-Star game veteran, and a walking bucket, two things that go together well at AS weekend.
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Despite being one of the league’s premier offensive forces, Harden has never really gone off at the All-Star game (perhaps tied to the lack of fouls leading to free throws), scoring 12 points in each of the last three seasons. In my book, that means he’s due for a breakout.
Team Giannis: Kawhi Leonard, SF, Clippers
Kawhi did end Antetokounmpo’s season in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, but he can’t pass up the best player left on the board because of that.
Leonard has appeared in (and started) three previous AS contests, scoring 13.3 points per game on over 51% shooting. He scored 19 in 19 minutes last season against Giannis, and the Bucks forward could want that kind of production on his squad this season.
It also revokes the chances of LeBron owning all three L.A stars.