2021 NBA All-Star Mock Draft: Who will LeBron James and Kevin Durant select?

This season's All-Stars have been revealed.

On Feb 19, the starters were announced. On Feb 24, the reserves were announced. All that remains to be seen is which players will make up the two teams, which will be decided by LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who will serve as team captains and draft this year's rosters from the pool of players voted as All-Stars.

The draft isn't until March 5, but two members of our NBA.com Staff decided to hold their own draft to see how things might shake out. Drafting for Team LeBron was Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles). Drafting for Team Durant was Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21).

Quick note: The eight remaining starters were selected first, followed by the 14 reserves. Also, Devin Booker has been named as a replacement for Anthony Davis, so he's available as opposed to Davis.

Got it? Great. Let's get to it.

Note: This story was written prior to the announcement that Kevin Durant would not be participating in the 2021 All-Star Game.

Starters

Team LeBron selects: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

This might have something to do with me being Jokic's biggest fan, but he's one of the leading candidates for MVP this season and he'd fit in like a glove with LeBron, being a knockdown shooter and elite passer and all. Surprising as this pick might be to some, I feel like I don't really have to justify it.

Team Durant selects: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

After seeing the pairing of KD and Curry dominate the Western Conference for three straight seasons and win two titles, I think I got pretty eager at the chance to see it once again, even if it's an All-Star Game. We need another glimpse of that beautiful basketball in our lives.

Team LeBron selects: Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

For the second year in a row, Team LeBron is going to forget the LA rivalry for an opportunity to team up with another MVP candidate.

Team Durant selects: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Luka's game is tailor-made for the All-Star stage. We're trying to run the score up in this one and with a trio of Curry, Durant and Doncic, we'll do just that.

Team LeBron selects: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

The Giannis disrespect ends here! We have more than enough shooting for Antetokounmpo to live in the paint and Team LeBron just got even scarier defensively. Good luck scoring on LeBron, Kawhi and Giannis.

Team Durant selects: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

I'll be honest, once Jokic went first, I knew Embiid would fall to me by default, but I wouldn't let top-three MVP candidate fall to the last pick. The four-time All-Star is going to give us another dimension on the defensive end, too.

Team LeBron selects: Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

Irving gets to continue playing shooting guard. It helps that he's played next to LeBron before. Need I remind you what they did together in 2016?

Team Durant selects: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

Would you look at that? I get to take the league's leading scorer with my final pick of the opening round? Yeah, sign me up.

Reserves

Team Durant selects: James Harden, Brooklyn Nets

After starting in the last four All-Star Games, Harden is in a reserve for the first time since 2016. I'm hoping the league's assist leader taps into the Sixth Man of the Year version of himself.

Team LeBron selects: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard probably should be starting in the All-Star Game, so this is an easy pick. If this game is close, I just secured the win.

Team Durant selects: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Tatum, who will be 23 at the time of the All-Star Game, has made another leap this season, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists this season – all career-highs. The perimeter offence on this team is ridiculously scary.

Team LeBron selects: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

Another easy pick. Lots of worthy candidates, but if I'm trying to win a game, Paul is always going to be picked early. Plus, LeBron and Paul are close. It makes too much sense.

Team Durant selects: Paul George, LA Clippers

Man, my options on the perimeter just keep getting scarier and scarier. PG is back and better than ever, scooping him here was a no-brainer.

Team LeBron selects: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Ah! George was going to be my next pick. Brown is a good facsimile. He's cooled off a little lately but is still averaging 25.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists on the season.

Team Durant selects: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers

With all these scorers, it's only right I snagged another one of the league's best passers. I didn't want to split Simmons and Embiid, either.

Team LeBron selects: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

Ah! Simmons was going to be my next pick again. Let's trade one Defensive Player of the Year candidate for another.

Team Durant selects: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

The fourth-youngest All-Star ever, I know Zion is bringing plenty of energy to his All-Star debut. He'll get it done for me on the inside and above the rim, too.

Team LeBron selects: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Team LeBron is going to get a lot of buckets. Efficiently, too. LaVine is averaging 28.8 points per game this season on .523/.440/.866 shooting splits. Absurd.

Team Durant selects: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Just continuing with my theme of perimeter scorers, Book will ensure that we run it up.

Team LeBron selects: Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz

I'm not going to lie, the whole Booker-replacing-AD thing messed with me a little in this draft. Like you don't want to split Simmons and Embiid, I don't want to split Mitchell and Gobert.

Team Durant selects: Julius Randle, New York Knicks

It came down to Randle and Vucevic. Since we've already seen Vooch on this stage, the prospect of what Randle might do intrigues me.

Team LeBron selects: Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic

With the last pick, we welcome one of the most versatile centres in the league. Can't wait to roll out a lineup featuring Vucevic, Jokic and Gobert.

Final rosters

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.