Kevin Durant was against James Harden’s participation in the Brooklyn partnership that ended.
Durant continued to pass on Harden in NBA All-Star Draft, until LeBron James took him Thursday with last pick. This brought some petty humor to the proceedings.
James was the first to pick from the starters pool in Cleveland’s Feb. 20 game. He drafted Giannis Antounmpo. Durant selected Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers , who agreed to trade with Brooklyn to send Ben Simmons to New York.
Durant was the first to choose among the reserves and chose Devin Booker, the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns. James was the last pick, and Durant clearly stated who would be his replacement.
Durant won Defensive Player Of The Year Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. He explained with a straight face that he needed size, even though offensive-minded players are rarely needed in an exhibition about offense.
James hid his laughter by holding a clipboard across his face. Durant asked James if Harden was able to play. Durant, the three-time scoring champion and 2018 NBA MVP, has missed three of his last three games due to tightness in his left hamstring.
“He was traded. Charles Barkley, TNT analyst, responded that he is now healthy.
James, along with DeMar DeRozan from Chicago, also drafted Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic, former MVPs. Durant was replaced in the starters pool by Jayson Tatum, who replaced Durant because Durant is currently injured and can’t play.
Team LeBron reserves Luka Doncic in Dallas; Darius Garland in Cleveland; Chris Paul in Phoenix; Jimmy Butler and Donovan Mitchell in Miami; Fred VanVleet in Toronto; Harden.
The Team Durant reserves Booker, Karl Anthony Towns in Minnesota; Zach LaVine from Chicago; Dejounte Murray, San Antonio; Khris Midton, Milwaukee; LaMelo ball, Charlotte; and Gobert.
Since the NBA changed to an format in which the top vote-getters draft teams instead of Eastern Conference against Western Conference, James has been a captain each year. His teams are now 4-0.
