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2021 NBA All-Star Game Opening Odds – Team LeBron 3.5-Point Favorites vs Team Durant

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NBA Basketball

Updated Mar 8, 2021 · 8:55 AM PST

LeBron James holding ball with right hand looking to pass
LeBron James leads Team LeBron against Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
  • Team LeBron is favored by 3.5 points over Team Durant in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game
  • Durant’s roster features the current NBA leaders in points and assists per game
  • LeBron’s roster has won eight NBA MVP awards – read below to see our pick

Now that the drafting is done, who’s the better fantasy GM – LeBron James or Kevin Durant?

The NBA All-Star Game draft was held Thursday, with opposing captains James and Durant selecting their squads.

James, who will suit up and lead one team, chose 11 players. Durant, captain of the other club, won’t play due to injury, so he drafted a full 12-player roster.

Oddsmakers are leaning toward LeBron when it comes to drafting skills. Team LeBron is being established as the 3.5-point favorites over Team Durant in the opening line.

Team Durant vs Team LeBron All-Star Game Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Team Durant +142 +3.5 (-110) O 307.5 (-110)
Team LeBron -168 -3.5 (-110) U 307.5 (-110)

Odds taken Mar. 4th at FanDuel.

This is the fourth year that the NBA has gone with this format. LeBron has drafted a squad in all three previous games and has truly proven to be King James. His teams are 3-0.

Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game is slated for an 8pm EST tipoff at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. It’s being broadcast by TNT.

LeBron Loads Up on Legends

Including himself, James lists a trio of players on his roster with multiple NBA MVP awards on their resumes. He’s been MVP four times, while his first two draft picks, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry, have each been recognized as MVP twice. James also has four NBA Finals MVPs to his credit.

He didn’t simply choose his picks based on history, mind you. James also took a “what have they done lately” approach during his selection process.

He grabbed four of the top seven scorers in the league this season in Curry (third), Damian Lillard (fourth), Giannis (fifth) and Luka Doncic (seventh). His squad should also distribute the ball well. Along with himself – James is 10th in the NBA in assists per game – he grabbed five others among the top 11 in apples in Chris Paul (fourth), Doncic (fifth), Nikola Jokic (seventh), Lillard (eighth) and Ben Simmons (11th).

Team LeBron also shouldn’t be shabby at cleaning the glass. Rudy Gobert is second in the NBA in rebounding. Giannis is third, Domantas Sabonis is ninth and Jokic is 10th.

Team Durant Can Score the Basketball

Durant chose five of the top-10 scorers in the NBA this season. That list includes Bradley Beal and Joel Embiid, currently 1-2 in scoring. Also selected were Zach LaVine (sixth), Kyrie Irving (ninth) and Kawhi Leonard (10th).

Don’t forget Durant also snared three-time NBA scoring champion James Harden, who currently leads the league in assists. Harden is a former MVP, while Leonard is a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

Harden, however, is the only member of Team Durant among the top 10 in assists. Durant’s squad could also struggle on the boards. Just Embiid (fourth) and Nikola Vucevic (sixth) rate among the NBA’s top 10 in rebounds.

Crown The King Again

Team LeBron have claimed their threepeat of NBA All-Star Game victories by an average margin of 6.3 points. Last year was the closest call. He beat Team Giannis 157-155.

There was also a 148-45 decision over Team Curry in 2018.

Now, all three of those guys are on the same side, and that should spell doom for Team Durant.

Pick: Team LeBron -3.5 (-110).

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