Team LeBron Opens as 4.5-Point Favorite Over Team Giannis in 2020 All-Star Game

• Team LeBron has opened as a 4.5-point favorite over Team Giannis for the 2020 edition of the All-Star game
• James and Antetokounmpo  are once again captains and drafted their rosters last week
• The winning team will earn up to $500,000, which will be donated to various charities

The rosters are set for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. While everyone is still trying to figure out exactly how the new format will play out, the spread has finally opened since rosters were drafted by LeBron James & Giannis Antetokounmpo this past week.

LeBron’s squad has opened as a 4.5-point favorite over Giannis’ team for the game in Chicago on Sunday night.

Team LeBron vs Team Giannis Odds

Odds taken Feb. 13th

James Drafts Leonard, AD to His Roster

Just as it was last year, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were selected as captains of the All-Star game. That meant each were the heads of the draft and went pick-by-pick selecting the rosters. The same was the case in 2020 as they built out their teams.

James ended up with Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic and James Harden as his starters. His reserves will include Ben Simmons, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Domantas Sabonis and Devin Booker, who was announced as Damian Lillard’s replacement on Thursday.

Giannis’ Team Heavy on Eastern Influence

For whatever reason, Giannis’ team ended with a lot of Eastern Conference stars as his entire starting lineup is from the East, as well as four of his seven reserves. His roster includes: Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Kemba Walker, Trae Young, Khris Middleton, Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Brandon Ingram and Donovan Mitchell.

What’s interesting to note is that both teams seemed to avoid the Houston Rockets stars. When Giannis was asked if he’s going to select Harden, he responded that he wanted somebody that is “going to pass the ball”.

Harden was the second-last selection in the first round while Russell Westbrook was the third-last pick of the draft.

LeBron’s Roster Is Stacked

If there is a takeaway that we can have here, it looks like LBJ’s roster is a little more stacked than Giannis’. Not only did he add fellow MVP candidate Anthony Davis, he also added reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic, Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Harden, who currently leads the league in scoring.

Antetokounmpo has a starting lineup with Embiid, Siakam, Walker and Young, two of which are first-time All-Stars.

Embiid has also been struggling quite a bit recently as Shaquille O’Neal called him out in his Thursday loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, labeling him as “soft”.

What’s the Early Best Bet?

Team LeBron won last year’s contest 178-164 and at least on paper, it looks like James has done a better job of being the general manager once again. I’d take a small flier that his squad edges Giannis’ once again.