The other starters in the Western Conference pool are Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson were named starters in the East. A combination of fans, media and players vote to select starters, while coaches draft reserves.

For the game, the Warriors could be without their best player, as two-time MVP Steph Curry has been ruled out. Curry is averaging 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 44.

And don’t forget, this past offseason, the Warriors lost a $30 million chunk of salary when they jettisoned Chris Paul strictly for luxury tax avoidance. The NBA owners wanted a system that brought big-market, big-spending teams like the Warriors to heel, and they received it.