NBA announces date, TV info for All-Star draft

A year after being criticized for failing to televise its All-Star Game draft, the NBA on Thursday confirmed the 2019 version will air on live TV. The draft is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 7 on TNT.

For the second year in a row, the All-Star Game rosters will be set through a draft, with two captains selecting players, regardless of conference, from a pool of starters voted in by fans, players and media, and reserves selected by coaches.

The leading vote-getter from fan balloting for each conference will be the captain. The third update of fan balloting shows the Lakers' LeBron James leading the Western Conference and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the East.

Last season, James and Golden State's Stephen Curry were team captains and made their selections via conference call. The order in which they selected some players was ultimately leaked, and many -- including several players -- argued the draft should have been televised in the first place.

According to reports, the original plan was indeed to televise the draft but the players' union pushed back and the draft was moved to a conference call.

The 2019 NBA All-Star Game will be played Feb. 17 in Charlotte, N.C.

--Field Level Media