Giannis Antetokounmpo led everyone in the NBA All-Star Game voting but his team will no longer be called Team Giannis just like the past editions.
The new format called for a redo, too, on how the new teams will be called and the team he belongs to will now be dubbed as the Global Stars.
The Greek Freak’s team, confirmed last February 5 is composed of international stars. It will be led by three-time MVP and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, unicorn Victor Wembanyama from the San Antonio Spurs, OKC and MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cameroonian and Indiana Pacers big man Pascal Siakam, Dominican Republic representative Karl Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun from Turkey.
There are two Americans in the team – Donovan Mitchell of Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland Cavaliers and Antetokounmpo’s replacement Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
They will be going up against Team OGs which will be composed of quite older American stars – led by Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
The other team is called Young Stars is composed of Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Evan Mobley and Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder), Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), and Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons).
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s vision for European players
The Milwaukee Bucks star has been ruled out for the All-Star festivities as he prioritizes recovering from a left calf strain but he should be happy about the way they presenting this year’s edition of the All-Star game.
In 2019, he expressed desire to have Team USA vs Team World.
“I would love that,” he said when asked about such format.
“It’d be a good way to pick a lot of European players playing against a U.S. team. Show them what we got.”
Earlier this month, he saw some positives about Luka Doncic’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers saying he is in support of a European player becoming the face of a big market team, become the face of the NBA.
It is unfortunate that he won’t be able to play but at least, his vision is turning into a reality.
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