James, Antetokounmpo lead 2019 NBA All-Star starting lineups

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The NBA on Thursday announced the 10 starters of the 2019 All-Star Game in Charlotte.

LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Paul George and James Harden were picked in the Western Conference while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker were selected in the Eastern Conference.

Starting players were decided via voting by fans who had 50 percent of say in the matter; media had 25 percent of ballots and players had the rest of the 25 percent. James and Antetokounmpo, who received the most votes in West and East, became captains of the two All-Star teams.

LeBron James holds his MVP trophy after the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. /VCG Photo

For the third straight time and the sixth time in his career, James led in All-Star voting, only next to Michael Jordon who was nine-time All-Star voting champion.

"The King" also broke Dwight Howard's 2009 record of winning over the most fan votes. By contrast with Howard's 3,150,181 which was the only over-three-million record in the NBA history, James received 4,620,809, not only setting a new record, but also taking it to more than four million.

As James went to the West, the "Greek Freak" became the new most popular player in the Eastern Conference by receiving the most fan votes. This was also the third consecutive time for Antetokounmpo to both enter the All-Star team and as a starter.

James Harden in the 2018 All-Star Game /VCG Photo

Thanks to media and player votes, Harden who ranked only the third in fan voting surpassed Derrick Rose to earn a spot in the All-Star first-lineup. However, such arrangements also meant bad news for fans of certain veteran and young players including Rose, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter and Luka Doncic.

The NBA will reveal the 14 backup players for the All-Star Game on January 31 by selecting the head coaches of the league's 30 teams.

Back squads will include three forwards, two guards and another two players from both Est and West. If any of the selected players get hurt and cannot play in All-Star, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will name the substitution.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. /VCG Photo

Like last season, the two teams will be named after their captains-Team LeBron and Team Giannis-while the two captains pick their own players from the rest members. Though there's no limit over East and West, the two captains cannot change the arrangements of starters and backups. The selection process will also be televised on February 7.

The 2019 NBA All-Star will happen in Charlotte between February 15 to 17, including All-Star Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge on February 15, Skills Challenge, 3-pt Contest and Dunk Contest on February 16 and the 68th All-Star Game on February 17.