NBA All-Star Draft, explained: New format for picking Team LeBron and Team Giannis in 2023

For many, the NBA All-Star Game has always been the world's best game of pick-up basketball.

That will especially be the case in 2023.

Five years after introducing an NBA All-Star Draft in which two captains select teams, the league has amended the draft format, giving the All-Star Game even more of an authentic pick-up game feel than it's had before.

Here is everything you need to know about the new format for the All-Star Draft in 2023.

Watch the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on Sling TV: Sign up today!

NBA All-Star Draft, explained: New format for picking teams in 2023

All-Star captains: LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Let's begin with the basics that remain the same.

Since 2018, All-Star captains have been determined by fan voting — the All-Star starter from each conference hat receives the most fan votes assumes the role of captain. This year, LeBron James was the leading vote-getter in the Western Conference while Giannis Antetokounmpo was the Eastern Conference's leading vote-getter.

Because James was the overall leading vote-getter, he earned the first overall pick in the All-Star Draft.

NBA All-Star Draft new format, explained

This year, the NBA All-Star Draft will take place right before the All-Star Game, with the captains selecting teams approximately 30 minutes before the game's scheduled tip-off.

In previous years, the All-Star Draft was recorded remotely over a week prior to the game and from 2019 to 2022, the All-Star Draft was aired on tape delay for fans to watch.

This year, the All-Star Draft will air live and serve as a pre-game show.

The @NBA and @TheNBPA announced today that TNT will air the 2023 NBA All-Star Draft as a new, live pregame segment at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET from Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. pic.twitter.com/heWwh4k8MR

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 25, 2023

As the leading vote-getter, Team LeBron will select first, but the order in which the starters and reserves are picked will change this year.

Team LeBron will get the first choice at the reserves until that entire 14-player pool has been selected. Once all the reserves are picked, the All-Star captains will move on to selecting from the starters.

How to watch the NBA All-Star Draft

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 19
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT
• TV channel: TNT, TBS
• Live stream: Sling TV

Coverage of the NBA All-Star Draft will be simulcast on TNT and TBS, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both networks will also carry the All-Star Game itself.

Fans in the U.S. can stream each event from All-Star Weekend on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

NBA All-Star player pool

NBA All-Star Game 2023 Starters Pool

*Embiid will start in place of Kevin Durant, who is out with a sprained MCL

**Markkanen will start in place of Zion Williamson, who is out with a strained hamstring

***Morant will start in place of Stephen Curry, who is out with a leg injury

NBA All-Star Game 2023 Reserves Pool

*Edwards and Fox were selected as injury replacements for Curry and Williamson

**Siakam was selected as an injury replacement for Durant

NBA All-Star schedule 2023

Here is the schedule of events for NBA All-Star Weekend, which takes place from Feb. 17-19:

Friday, Feb. 17

• 7 p.m. ET — NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
• 9 p.m. ET — Jordan Rising Stars Game

Saturday, Feb. 18

• 1 p.m. ET — NBA All-Star Practice
• 4 p.m. ET — NBA x HBCU Classic 
• 8 p.m. ET — All-Star Saturday Night
  • Skills Challenge
  • 3-Point Contest
  • Slam Dunk Contest

Sunday, Feb. 19

• 3 p.m. ET — NBA G League Next Up Game
• 7:30 p.m. ET — NBA All-Star Draft
• 8 p.m. ET — NBA All-Star Game