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In NBA All-Star draft, Durant selects ... anyone but Harden

Brian Mahoney

Associated Press

Tags: LaMelo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Sports, Fred VanVleet, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Charles Barkley, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Dejounte Murray, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, Khris Middleton, Chris Paul, Temetrius Morant, James Harden, Joel Embiid, Darius Garland, Devin Booker
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Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) smiles before the start of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James warms up prior to an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola)
FILE - Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) is shown during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in San Antonio. The Philadelphia 76ers have traded Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden as part of a multiplayer deal. The trade was confirmed by multiple people who spoke to The Associated Press Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) smiles before the start of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Kevin Durant wanted no part of James Harden on the day their partnership in Brooklyn ended.

Durant kept passing on Harden in the NBA All-Star Draft until LeBron James had to take him Thursday with the last pick, bringing some petty comedy to the process.

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James had the first pick among players in the starters pool for the Feb. 20 game in Cleveland and drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo. Durant took Joel Embiid, whose Philadelphia 76ers agreed to the trade with Brooklyn that sent Ben Simmons to the Nets.

Durant had the first choice among reserves, going with Devin Booker of the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns. That meant James had the final pick and Durant made clear who was going to be left for him.

With his last selection, Durant took Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, explaining with a straight face he needed size — even though defensive-minded players are hardly a need in an exhibition mostly about offense.

Holding a clipboard over his face to hide his laughter, James asked Durant if Harden was healthy enough to play. The three-time scoring champion and 2018 NBA MVP has missed the last three games with a left hamstring tightness.

“He got traded. He’s healthy now,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley responded.

James also drafted former MVPs Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic in the starter pool, along with Chicago's DeMar DeRozan. Durant took first-timers Ja Morant of Memphis and Andrew Wiggins of Golden State, and Boston's Jayson Tatum — who replaced him in the starters pool because Durant is injured and won't play.

The Team LeBron reserves: Luka Doncic, Dallas; Darius Garland, Cleveland; Chris Paul, Phoenix; Jimmy Butler, Miami; Donovan Mitchell, Utah; Fred VanVleet, Toronto, and Harden.

The Team Durant reserves: Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota; Zach LaVine, Chicago; Dejounte Murray, San Antonio; Khris Middleton, Milwaukee; LaMelo Ball, Charlotte, and Gobert.

James has been a captain every year since the NBA went to a format where the leading vote-getters draft teams, instead of Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference. His teams have gone 4-0.

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