2018 NBA All-Star Game

Coaches

Dwane Casey (left) and Mike D'Antoni (right) were selected as head coach for Team LeBron and Team Stephen, respectively.

The two teams were coached from their respective conference.^[5] Mike D'Antoni, coach of the Houston Rockets, was named as the head coach for Team Stephen.^[6] Dwane Casey, coach of the Toronto Raptors, was named as the head coach for Team LeBron.^[7]

Rosters

The rosters for the All-Star Game were selected through a voting process. The starters were chosen by the fans, media, and current NBA players. Fans make up 50% of the vote, and NBA players and media each comprise 25% of the vote. The two guards and three frontcourt players who receive the highest cumulative vote totals are named the All-Star starters.^[8] NBA head coaches vote for the reserves for their respective conferences, none of which can be players on their own team. Each coach selects two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards, with each selected player ranked in order of preference within each category. If a multi-position player is to be selected, coaches are encouraged to vote for the player at the position that was "most advantageous for the All-Star team", regardless of where the player was listed on the All-Star ballot or the position he was listed in box scores.

The All-Star Game starters were announced on January 18, 2018.^[9] Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors were named the backcourt starters in the East, earning their fifth and fourth all-star appearances, respectively. LeBron James was named a starter to his 14th career all-star game, breaking Dirk Nowitzki's record for most selections among active players. Joining James in the East frontcourt was Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, his first selection, and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, his second selection.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and James Harden of the Houston Rockets were named to the starting backcourt in the West, earning their fifth and sixth all-star appearances, respectively. In the frontcourt, Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors was named to his ninth career all-star game, along with DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, their fourth and fifth all-star selections, respectively.^[9] During the All-Star Game, Davis would wear his teammate Cousins' jersey as a means of honoring him after his season-ending injury occurred before the All-Star Game began.

The All-Star Game reserves were announced on January 23, 2018.^[10] The West reserves include Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, his seventh selection, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, their fourth and third all-star selections, respectively, LaMarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs, his sixth selection, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, his third selection, and Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves, their first and fourth all-star selections, respectively. Westbrook would later be named the replacement starter for DeMarcus Cousins' open starting spot on the team.

The East reserves include Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, his fourth selection, Al Horford of the Boston Celtics, his fifth selection, John Wall and Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards, their fifth and first all-star selections, respectively, Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers, his first selection, Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers, his fifth selection, and Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks, his first selection.

Draft

LeBron James and Stephen Curry were named as captains due to being the leading vote getter from the East and West, respectively. James had the first pick in the draft as the leading vote getter overall, while Curry has first choice of jersey color, due to the Western Conference having home team status for the game. The draft pool consisted of the eight other starters, with no regard to conference designation, and 14 reserves (seven from each conference), chosen by NBA head coaches.^[9] On January 25, 2018, LeBron James and Stephen Curry created their rosters via a draft, which would not be televised for various reasons. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game, choosing a player from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Silver's selection would join the team that drafted the replaced player. If a replaced player is a starter, the head coach of that team will choose a new starter from his cast of players instead.^[5]

Game

National anthem

Fergie's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game received heavy negative criticism and mockery online.^[20][21] The rendition—described as "unusual" and "bizarre"—was met with laughter from the arena crowd, and All-Star Draymond Green was shown chuckling on the television broadcast.^[22][23] The following day, Fergie said she "wanted to try something special for the NBA," but it "didn't strike the intended tone."^[24]

Celebrity Game

The 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles was played on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.^[25][26][27] Since the All-Star Weekend was held in Los Angeles, the competition was represented by the two NBA teams in the city with the Los Angeles Lakers (Team Lakers) and the Los Angeles Clippers (Team Clippers) instead of the typical West Vs. East affair like in previous years.

Mountain Dew KickStart Rising Stars Challenge

Team World[28] Pos. Nationality Player Team R/S G  Serbia Bogdan Bogdanović Sacramento Kings Rookie G/F  Canada Dillon Brooks Memphis Grizzlies Rookie C  Cameroon Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers Sophomore G  Bahamas Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings Sophomore F  Finland Lauri Markkanen Chicago Bulls Rookie G  Canada Jamal Murray Denver Nuggets Sophomore G  France Frank Ntilikina New York Knicks Rookie F/C  Lithuania Domantas Sabonis Indiana Pacers Sophomore F  Croatia Dario Šarić Philadelphia 76ers Sophomore G/F  Australia Ben Simmons Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Head Coach: Rex Kalamian (Toronto Raptors)

Team USA[28] Pos. Player Team R/S G Lonzo BallINJ2 Los Angeles Lakers Rookie G Malcolm BrogdonINJ1 Milwaukee Bucks Sophomore G/F Jaylen Brown Boston Celtics Sophomore F/C John Collins Atlanta Hawks Rookie G Kris Dunn Chicago Bulls Sophomore G/F Brandon Ingram Los Angeles Lakers Sophomore F Kyle Kuzma Los Angeles Lakers Rookie G Donovan Mitchell Utah Jazz Rookie G Dennis Smith Jr. Dallas Mavericks Rookie F Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics Rookie F Taurean PrinceREP1 Atlanta Hawks Sophomore G De'Aaron FoxREP2 Sacramento Kings Rookie Head Coach: Roy Rogers (Houston Rockets)

Team World won against Team USA 155-124.

Skills Challenge

Three-Point Contest

Slam Dunk Contest