LeBron James, Stephen Curry highlight Chris Broussard's NBA All-Star starters
The calendar is drawing closer to February, and that means the NBA's All-Star starters are closer to being announced.
Before the rosters are officially revealed, though, Chris Broussard is taking a crack at picking the starters for this season's contest, casting his own ballot on "First Things First."
The actual starters will be revealed Jan. 27, and the All-Star Game — the 71st in NBA history — will take place Feb. 20 in Cleveland.
Check out Broussard's selections below:
Eastern Conference
Backcourt
DeMar DeRozan, SG, Chicago Bulls
Stats: 25.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.7 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "He's the main reason for the Chicago Bulls' resurgence. Playing terrifically, having a great season."
James Harden, PG, Brooklyn Nets
Stats: 22.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 10.0 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "Harden, he's down, isn't he? Yeah, he's down from his lofty, historically great, superstar perch. But if you judge him against other All-Stars, he's actually having a nice year."
Frontcourt
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 28.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 6.1 APG
Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets
Stats: 29.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.8 APG
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 28 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.2 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "This was easy: Giannis Antetokounmpo, obvious. Kevin Durant, I know he got hurt, obvious. And Joel Embiid, just phenomenal jump-shooter and big man."
Western Conference
Backcourt
Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
Stats: 26.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 6.0 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "People are like, 'Well, Steph's not shooting well now.' Yeah, but he is still averaging 26 points for the second-best team in the league, record-wise."
Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
Stats: 24.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.9 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "No-brainer, the most exciting and electrifying player. This dude is special, and they're winning."
Frontcourt
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
Stats: 28.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 6.4 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "LeBron is just unbelievable. He became the first player in NBA history to get 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists in his career. Congratulations, LeBron."
Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
Stats: 25.9 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 7.4 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "You can't deny him at all. Last night, he went for 49 [points]."
Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
Stats: 15.9 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 1.1 APG
Broussard's thoughts: "Let me reward Rudy Gobert: 16 points a game, leads the league in rebounds, second in blocks at 2.5. Rudy Gobert leads the league in screen assists."