NBA All-Star 2021 Draft: Who Will LeBron James, Kevin Durant Pick For Team Rosters?

We know which players will compete in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, but the makeup of each roster is still a mystery. That will change Thursday night when LeBron James and Kevin Durant, the contest's captains, pick their respective teams in the All-Star draft.

Of the 24 players in Sunday night’s All-Star Game, 10 have already been designated as starters and must be drafted before the reserves. Durant was supposed to start, but he’ll miss the game with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Jayson Tatum.

That means nine players have the potential to be drafted first by James or Durant. James, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard were picked as starters from the Western Conference. Joining Tatum from the East are Kyrie Irving, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bradley Beal.

Who will be drafted first? The betting odds suggest that there are two clear favorites to come off the board.

Leonard leads the way with +175 odds at BetOnline to be the first selection of Team LeBron. When James was an All-Star captain last year, he made Leonard his second overall pick. James picked Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis first in the 2020 All-Star Draft, but Davis will miss Sunday’s contest with a calf injury.

Leonard was the MVP in last year’s All-Star Game as Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 157-55.

Curry is second with +300 odds to be James’ first pick. The Golden State Warriors’ star is followed by Doncic (+325), Irving (+350) and Embiid (+400).

Irving is favored to be the top pick of Team Durant with even odds. Considering Durant and Irving joined forces to sign with the Brooklyn Nets two summers ago, it would be surprising if Durant selected any player ahead of his teammate.

Curry, Durant’s former teammate with the Warriors, is second with +225 odds to be Durant’s first pick. He’s followed by Antetokounmpo (+375) and Embiid (+450).

Embiid is viewed as James’ biggest competition to win the 2021 NBA MVP award. Antetokounmpo has won the regular-season MVP award in each of the last two seasons.