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

Gilbert McGregor

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

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.

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

Player Position Team
Luka Doncic Guard Mavericks
Joel Embiid* Frontcourt 76ers
Kyrie Irving Guard Mavericks
Nikola Jokic Frontcourt Nuggets
Lauri Markkanen** Frontcourt Jazz
Donovan Mitchell Guard Cavaliers
Ja Morant*** Guard Grizzlies
Jayson Tatum Frontcourt Celtics

*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

Player Position Team
Bam Adebayo Frontcourt Heat
Jaylen Brown Guard Celtics
DeMar DeRozan Guard Bulls
Anthony Edwards* Guard Timberwolves
De'Aaron Fox* Guard Kings
Paul George Frontcourt Clippers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Guard Thunder
Tyrese Haliburton Guard Pacers
Jrue Holiday Guard Bucks
Jaren Jackson Jr. Frontcourt Grizzlies
Damian Lillard Guard Trail Blazers
Julius Randle Frontcourt Knicks
Domantas Sabonis Frontcourt Kings
Pascal Siakam*** Frontcourt Raptors

*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

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.