Thu Feb 6 7:47pm ET
Field Level Media
LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be teammates once again -- not with the Los Angeles Lakers, but on "Team Shaq" in the 2025 All-Star Game.
"Inside the NBA" analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley on Thursday drafted the teams for which they're serving as honorary captains in the All-Star Game's new format.
O'Neal picked James with the first overall choice. Smith picked Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards second overall.
"Team Chuck" has plenty of size with former MVPs Nikola Jokic (third overall pick) and Giannis Antetokounmpo along with Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. This will be Wembanyama's first All-Star Game.
O'Neal added former MVPs Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden, but his most intriguing decision was to take Davis with his third selection. James and Davis won a championship together with the Lakers in 2020, but Los Angeles has struggled since, and Davis was shipped to Dallas in a stunning trade for Luka Doncic over the weekend.
NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.8 points per game) is on Team Chuck.
The event is shifting to a four-team tournament with a pair of semifinal games and a final. The fourth team, made up of the best first- and second-year players and G League stars, will be called Team Candace and captained by WNBA legend Candace Parker.
The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 16 in San Francisco.
The full rosters are below, in order of player selection:
Team Shaq:
LeBron James, L.A. Lakers
Stephen Curry, Golden State
Anthony Davis, Dallas
Jayson Tatum, Boston
Kevin Durant, Phoenix
Damian Lillard, Milwaukee
James Harden, L.A. Clippers
Jaylen Brown, Boston
Team Kenny:
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota
Jalen Brunson, New York
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City
Darius Garland, Cleveland
Evan Mobley, Cleveland
Cade Cunningham, Detroit
Tyler Herro, Miami
Team Chuck:
Nikola Jokic, Denver
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio
Pascal Siakam, Indiana
Alperen Sengun, Houston
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (ankle) is available for Sunday's matchup with Charlotte. He wasn't available for Friday's win over the 76ers. As a result, Malik Beasley entered the starting lineup and finished with 36 points, a career-high. But with Cunningham back in the Mix, Beasley will head back to the bench, which should lower his fantasy potential.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) won't play on Sunday against Detroit. In Friday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, the 23-year-old had 24 points and 10 assists. He popped up on Sunday's injury report due to ankle soreness, so it seems there's a good chance he'll be back on Monday in Brooklyn. With Nick Smith Jr. (back) also sidelined, Miles Bridges should take over as Charlotte's top offensive option. In addition, KJ Simpson, who had 15 points, three assists, and one steal in his only start of the season, definitely deserves starting consideration in all fantasy setups.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined for 2-3 weeks because of a calf strain. The injury will also force him to miss the All-Star game. The 30-year-old has already been sidelined for four games. However, the last revelation from Haynes certainly is even worse news for fantasy managers. Without Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis will likely remain in the starting lineup at the four. Portis has played well while Antetokounmpo has been out, even more so in the last two games, combining for 49 points, 32 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals, giving him added value from a fantasy standpoint.
Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Schroder (trade pending) is available for Sunday's matchup with the Hornets. The veteran has bounced around the National Basketball Association this season, suiting up for the Nets and Warriors before getting shipped to the Pistons ahead of the deadline. While he could have a rough time finding consistent minutes in Detroit, he should at least overthrow Marcus Sasser for the spot behind Cade Cunningham (ankle). With that said, Schroder should have spells of efficiency moving forward, although he likely won't be a consistent fantasy performer. Unfortunately, his ceiling might decrease significantly if Jaden Ivey (leg) can work his way back from a broken Fibula.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Pistons. He had 24 points and 10 assist in Friday's narrow win over the San Antonio Spurs. However, the 23-year-old is now in danger of missing Sunday's contest because of ankle soreness. If Ball isn't available, KJ Simpson, who had 15 points, three assists, and one steal in his only start of the season, is worth streaming. Simpson will also draw interest from DFS managers, even more so if Nick Smith Jr. (back) can't get on the floor.
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (ankle) isn't available for Sunday's clash with the Toronto Raptors. He injured his right ankle during the February 1 encounter against the Brooklyn Nets. As a result, the 30-year-old has missed the last four games. Without him, Amen Thompson should continue to handle most of the duties at the one spot, giving him a bump in usage and production. Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green should also see more scoring chances without VanVleet on the floor, with Cam Whitmore, coming off a seven-point, four-rebound effort in Saturday's loss to Dallas, remaining more involved from off the bench.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) won't play on Sunday versus the visiting 76ers. He'll now miss his fourth-straight game because of a calf strain. In the meantime, Bobby Portis will presumably remain at the four spot. Portis has surged while Antetokounmpo has been on the shelf, especially in the last two games, combining for 49 points, 32 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. As such, the 29-year-old has an excellent chance to remain even more productive against a Philadelphia team that could be without Joel Embiid (knee).
New Orleans' F Zion Williamson scored 40 points on 16-of-21 shooting in a 118-123 loss to Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Celtics' F Jayson Tatum scored 40 points on 13-of-26 shooting in a 131-104 win over New York on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Lakers' G Austin Reaves scored 45 points on 14-of-26 shooting in a 124-117 win over the Pacers on Saturday, Feb. 8.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the trade between the Lakers and Hornets involving center Mark Williams and guard Dalton Knecht was rescinded. The deal was contingent on both players passing a physical. While Knecht had a clean bill of health, it was a different story for Williams. Per Charania, the Lakers medical staff discovered "multiple issues" during his exam, none of which were related to his previous back issue. As far as Knecht is concerned, he'll head back to Los Angeles, a team that recently acquired Luka Doncic (calf) from the Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis (abdomen). The 23-year-old hasn't been a consistent fantasy option. But he has at least averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and shot 39.3% from deep in 12 starts. With that in mind, redraft managers likely won't receive routine production from Knecht moving ahead, although he should have at least a few solid outings before the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the trade between the Lakers and Hornets involving center Mark Williams and forward Dalton Knecht was voided. Both teams agreed on the deal ahead of the deadline. However, it was contingent on both players passing a physical. Per Charania, Williams failed his physical, with the Lakers medical staff finding "multiple issues," none of which were related to his pre-existing back injury. It's unknown if Williams is healthy enough to play. But if he is sidelined, Jusuf Nurkic, who was acquired by the Hornets from the Suns, and Moussa Diabate will handle things in the middle.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The former MVP returned to the 76ers lineup this week, playing in two of three games, but he may sit out Sunday's action due to left knee injury management. Guerschon Yabusele (knee), who is considered probable, will likely start at center again if Embiid can't play. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona provide additional cover at the five position, although they are not productive fantasy performers and should be ignored by managers.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (knee) is good to go for Saturday's clash against the Boston Celtics. Despite battling knee soreness, Hart has continued to see a full workload and is expected to be heavily involved again on Saturday, as the team has upgraded his status from probable to available. Since the calendar was turned, Hart has averaged 14.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (knee) will come out of the lineup on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. Following 19 consecutive appearances, Allen sits out the second leg of a back-to-back due to soreness in his left knee. Kevin Durant (ankle) and Bradley Beal (toe) will not play either, leaving Phoenix without three of its four highest scorers on Saturday. Due to the injuries, Royce O'Neale, Ryan Dunn, and Monte Morris should be more heavily involved in the rotation.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) will suit up for Saturday's fascinating battle against the Boston Celtics. Towns was downgraded from probable to questionable a few hours before tip-off, but the team has now confirmed that the five-time All-Star will be in the lineup. After being limited to 12 points by the Celtics on opening night, Towns may have a chip on his shoulder. He is coming off a monster 27-point, 20-rebound effort against the Toronto Raptors.
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Talen Horton-Tucker (leg) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. He has recovered from a left leg infection, which kept Horton-Tucker off the court for four games. The 24-year-old has averaged only 11.5 minutes of action this season and likely won't make a big impact on Saturday. However, with Zach LaVine now in Sacramento, we may see a bit more of Horton-Tucker for the rest of the way.
Golden State Warriors guard/forward Moses Moody (back) has been cleared for action ahead of Saturday's contest against the Chicago Bulls. He is officially available for the game after initially receiving a probable tag on the injury report. Moody has been performing well in recent weeks, but Jimmy Butler's addition is expected to alter his role in the rotation. The same goes for Gui Santos (knee), who returns to the lineup on Saturday after a one-game absence.
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (toe) will remain on the shelf for a second consecutive game on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. Beal has recently produced some of his best performances of the season, but a toe injury has taken him out of the lineup. Kevin Durant (ankle) also remains out on Saturday, meaning Devin Booker will continue to have massive usage offensively. He nearly produced a 50-point double-double in Friday's 135-127 overtime win against the Utah Jazz. Ryan Dunn, Royce O'Neale, and Grayson Allen (knee) are also among the players who benefit from the situation. However, Allen may also have to skip Saturday's game due to knee soreness.
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (illness) will sit out Saturday's clash against the Golden State Warriors. Ball is feeling under the weather, and Chicago has downgraded him from questionable to out. He will be unavailable for a second consecutive game. Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu receive a usage boost with Ball out. New additions Kevin Huerter and Tre Jones are also in a position to benefit from his absence.
Rotate for more data.