Giannis Antentokounmpo couldn't believe his ears.
When the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP found out Thursday he'd start alongside fellow former NBA MVPs LeBron James and Warriors star Steph Curry in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, the Milwaukee Bucks forward's instant reaction said it all.
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"That's the starting five?!" Antetokounmpo, shocked, and chewing on a chicken wing, asked reporters in his postgame video conference after learning he would start with Curry, James, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic on Sunday.
"Yeah, it's over guys. Me, LeBron, Luka, Jokic and Steph? Man, that's a good starting five."
Antetokounmpo wasn't alone in that assessment, as James' team emerged as the overwhelming social-media favorites over Kevin Durant's squad heading into Sundays' game.
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Curry and James will be All-Star teammates for the first time in their careers, but each player has played alongside Antetokounmpo in the exhibition. James was an Eastern Conference All-Star with Antetokounmpo in 2017, while Curry was on the reigning MVP's team in 2018 and 2019.
Antetokounmpo (two), Curry (two) and James (four) have combined to win eight of the last 12 NBA MVP awards. Durant and Harden, the former MVPs on Team Durant, have combined to win two.
No wonder Antetokounmpo is so confident.