This year’s NBA All-Star game was one of the most anticipated in recent memory. Besides the clash of the league’s biggest stars, the game also commemorated the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. And, it is safe to say that the game didn’t disappoint as Team LeBron edged Team Giannis in a highly entertaining 157-155 match.

The 2020 NBA All-Star game featured a different format in order to honor Bryant and it ended up doing the trick as the contest was competitive, especially towards the end. The winner of the match would be the team who reaches 157 the first and Lakers’ Anthony Davis was the one to seal the deal for Team LeBron, hitting the deciding free throw.

“It felt like playing in the league in a playoff game,” said Davis after the game. “It’s a great competition, and it’s 24 players who go out and compete at a very high level, and to do it in front of a crowd like this, with a new format that we were a little skeptical of, we didn’t know how it was gonna go, but everyone, at the end of the day, they loved it. It brings back the competition, so it was great.”

Team LeBron was carried to win by Los Angeles Clippers’ superstar Kawhi Leonard, who was named the All-Star Game’s MVP and received a trophy that will now be permanently called Kobe Bryant Trophy. Leonard finished the match with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

“It’s very special,” said Leonard. “I had a relationship with him. Words can’t explain how happy I am to be able to put that trophy in my room, in my trophy room, and just be able to see Kobe’s name on there.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led his team by contributing 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Joel Embiid added 22 points, 10 rebounds while Rudy Gobert pitched in with 21 points, 11 rebound double-double.

Team LeBron and Team Giannis played for more than bragging rights, as each team previously selected a charity to donate $100,000 per each quarter of the game they win. Team LeBron ended up collecting $300,000 for donations, while Team Giannis had $100,000 to hand out.

The post Team LeBron Beats Team Giannis at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Dallas Maverick’s youngster Luka Doncic, Eagles’ Ben Simmons and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell will represent rising NBA stars during this year’s All-Star Weekend.

Simmons is the reigning Rookie of the Year award holder while Luka’s numbers place him as the most likely to win the award this year. The two players will also be in the same team at the All-Star weekend as the NBA utilizes a US team versus World team format that will feature rookies and second-year-players.

The team representing the U.S. will consist of Mitchell, Lakers’ duel Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball, Atlanta’s Trae Youngת and Boston’s Jayson Tatum. John Collis of the Grizzlies, Nets’ Jarret Allen and Sacramento Kings pair De’Aron Fox and Marvin Bagley III.

The World team will include Doncic, Simmons, Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton, Raptor’s OG Anunoby, King’s Bogdan Bogdanovic and Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen. Cleveland’s Cedi Osman, Minnesota’s Josh Okogie and Clipper’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will also be part of the team.

Maverick’s legend Dirk Nowitzki and Boston Celtic’s sensational Kyrie Irving will be opposing coaches in the youngsters’ teams. While Ball was initially named to participate in the game, he won’t play as he recovers from a left ankle sprain suffered January 19^th.

The post Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell and Ben Simmons to Lead Rising Stars at All-Star Weekend appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NBA just released the second fan returns of NBA All-Star Voting for 2018 and things are back to normal. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry took the lead in their respective conferences. The first fan return saw Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo getting the most votes in the Eastern Conference, while Curry’s teammate Kevin Durant had the most votes in the Western Conference.

The voting of fans will account for 50 percent of the vote which will determine the 10 starters in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Votes of NBA players and members of the media will account for 25 percent each. The voting will conclude on Monday, January 15.

Unlike past seasons, this time the vote leaders play a significant part. The top voted players in each of the conferences will be named captains and will choose their team from the pool of players who are voted in as starters and reserves.

The 2018 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, February 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

You can check out the full list of players with most fan votes below.

Eastern Conference

Frontcourt
1. LeBron James (CLE) 1,622,838
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 1,480,954
3. Joel Embiid (PHI) 784,287
4. Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) 640,928
5. Kevin Love (CLE) 458,157
6. Al Horford (BOS) 229,906
7. Jayson Tatum (BOS) 213,499
8. Enes Kanter (NYK) 159,010
9. Andre Drummond (DET) 139,226
10. Dwight Howard (CHA) 111,768

Guards
1. Kyrie Irving (BOS) 1,370,643
2. DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 537,168
3. Ben Simmons (PHI) 397,942
4. Victor Oladipo (IND) 385,448
5. Dwyane Wade (CLE) 353,273
6. John Wall (WAS) 328,215
7. Isaiah Thomas (CLE) 252,552
8. Kyle Lowry (TOR) 176,590
9. Bradley Beal (WAS) 151,765
10. Jaylen Brown (BOS) 103,622

Western Conference

Frontcourt
1. Kevin Durant (GSW) 1,326,059
2. Anthony Davis (NOP) 664,687
3. Draymond Green (GSW) 616,730
4. DeMarcus Cousins (NOP) 587,835
5. Paul George (OKC) 547,582
6. Kawhi Leonard (SAS) 446,133
7. Carmelo Anthony (OKC) 378,718
8. Kyle Kuzma (LAL) 325,903
9. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 320,884
10. LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS) 315,918

Guards
1. Stephen Curry (GSW) 1,369,658
2. James Harden (HOU) 978,540
3. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 791,332
4. Klay Thompson (GSW) 686,825
5. Manu Ginobili (SAS) 657,827
6. Chris Paul (HOU) 331,522
7. Lonzo Ball (LAL) 294,197
8. Damian Lillard (POR) 266,519
9. Jimmy Butler (MIN) 173,245
10. Devin Booker (PHO) 162,970

The post LeBron James and Stephen Curry Lead their Conferences in NBA All-Star Voting appeared first on SportzBonanza.

This year’s NBA All-Star game was one of the most anticipated in recent memory. Besides the clash of the league’s biggest stars, the game also commemorated the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. And, it is safe to say that the game didn’t disappoint as Team LeBron edged Team Giannis in a highly entertaining 157-155 match.

The 2020 NBA All-Star game featured a different format in order to honor Bryant and it ended up doing the trick as the contest was competitive, especially towards the end. The winner of the match would be the team who reaches 157 the first and Lakers’ Anthony Davis was the one to seal the deal for Team LeBron, hitting the deciding free throw.

“It felt like playing in the league in a playoff game,” said Davis after the game. “It’s a great competition, and it’s 24 players who go out and compete at a very high level, and to do it in front of a crowd like this, with a new format that we were a little skeptical of, we didn’t know how it was gonna go, but everyone, at the end of the day, they loved it. It brings back the competition, so it was great.”

Team LeBron was carried to win by Los Angeles Clippers’ superstar Kawhi Leonard, who was named the All-Star Game’s MVP and received a trophy that will now be permanently called Kobe Bryant Trophy. Leonard finished the match with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

“It’s very special,” said Leonard. “I had a relationship with him. Words can’t explain how happy I am to be able to put that trophy in my room, in my trophy room, and just be able to see Kobe’s name on there.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led his team by contributing 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, Joel Embiid added 22 points, 10 rebounds while Rudy Gobert pitched in with 21 points, 11 rebound double-double.

Team LeBron and Team Giannis played for more than bragging rights, as each team previously selected a charity to donate $100,000 per each quarter of the game they win. Team LeBron ended up collecting $300,000 for donations, while Team Giannis had $100,000 to hand out.

The post Team LeBron Beats Team Giannis at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Dallas Maverick’s youngster Luka Doncic, Eagles’ Ben Simmons and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell will represent rising NBA stars during this year’s All-Star Weekend.

Simmons is the reigning Rookie of the Year award holder while Luka’s numbers place him as the most likely to win the award this year. The two players will also be in the same team at the All-Star weekend as the NBA utilizes a US team versus World team format that will feature rookies and second-year-players.

The team representing the U.S. will consist of Mitchell, Lakers’ duel Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball, Atlanta’s Trae Youngת and Boston’s Jayson Tatum. John Collis of the Grizzlies, Nets’ Jarret Allen and Sacramento Kings pair De’Aron Fox and Marvin Bagley III.

The World team will include Doncic, Simmons, Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton, Raptor’s OG Anunoby, King’s Bogdan Bogdanovic and Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen. Cleveland’s Cedi Osman, Minnesota’s Josh Okogie and Clipper’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will also be part of the team.

Maverick’s legend Dirk Nowitzki and Boston Celtic’s sensational Kyrie Irving will be opposing coaches in the youngsters’ teams. While Ball was initially named to participate in the game, he won’t play as he recovers from a left ankle sprain suffered January 19^th.

The post Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell and Ben Simmons to Lead Rising Stars at All-Star Weekend appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NBA just released the second fan returns of NBA All-Star Voting for 2018 and things are back to normal. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry took the lead in their respective conferences. The first fan return saw Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo getting the most votes in the Eastern Conference, while Curry’s teammate Kevin Durant had the most votes in the Western Conference.

The voting of fans will account for 50 percent of the vote which will determine the 10 starters in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Votes of NBA players and members of the media will account for 25 percent each. The voting will conclude on Monday, January 15.

Unlike past seasons, this time the vote leaders play a significant part. The top voted players in each of the conferences will be named captains and will choose their team from the pool of players who are voted in as starters and reserves.

The 2018 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, February 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

You can check out the full list of players with most fan votes below.

Eastern Conference

Frontcourt
1. LeBron James (CLE) 1,622,838
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 1,480,954
3. Joel Embiid (PHI) 784,287
4. Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) 640,928
5. Kevin Love (CLE) 458,157
6. Al Horford (BOS) 229,906
7. Jayson Tatum (BOS) 213,499
8. Enes Kanter (NYK) 159,010
9. Andre Drummond (DET) 139,226
10. Dwight Howard (CHA) 111,768

Guards
1. Kyrie Irving (BOS) 1,370,643
2. DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 537,168
3. Ben Simmons (PHI) 397,942
4. Victor Oladipo (IND) 385,448
5. Dwyane Wade (CLE) 353,273
6. John Wall (WAS) 328,215
7. Isaiah Thomas (CLE) 252,552
8. Kyle Lowry (TOR) 176,590
9. Bradley Beal (WAS) 151,765
10. Jaylen Brown (BOS) 103,622

Western Conference

Frontcourt
1. Kevin Durant (GSW) 1,326,059
2. Anthony Davis (NOP) 664,687
3. Draymond Green (GSW) 616,730
4. DeMarcus Cousins (NOP) 587,835
5. Paul George (OKC) 547,582
6. Kawhi Leonard (SAS) 446,133
7. Carmelo Anthony (OKC) 378,718
8. Kyle Kuzma (LAL) 325,903
9. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 320,884
10. LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS) 315,918

Guards
1. Stephen Curry (GSW) 1,369,658
2. James Harden (HOU) 978,540
3. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 791,332
4. Klay Thompson (GSW) 686,825
5. Manu Ginobili (SAS) 657,827
6. Chris Paul (HOU) 331,522
7. Lonzo Ball (LAL) 294,197
8. Damian Lillard (POR) 266,519
9. Jimmy Butler (MIN) 173,245
10. Devin Booker (PHO) 162,970

The post LeBron James and Stephen Curry Lead their Conferences in NBA All-Star Voting appeared first on SportzBonanza.