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SALT LAKE CITY — A year ago, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell had the unwanted distinction of being the final two picks in the NBA All-Star draft.
Things went a little better on Thursday — if only because Gobert proved more likable than James Harden.
As Kevin Durant went to make his last pick, he had two options: Gobert and Harden.
Charles Barkley gave his trademark chuckle as he jumped in and said: "I'm gonna help you — you need some size."
Durant, who proved his ability to stay straight faced for a very long time, immediately jumped into his explanation of his next pick.
"Yeah, I'm gonna need some size," he said stone faced as everyone laughed. "And some defense on the interior, especially with Giannis and LeBron playing such great basketball this year. I need someone to offset that."
LeBron couldn't keep it together after KD picked Gobert over Harden 😅#NBAAllStar | @Nikepic.twitter.com/2wS1U8t7sE
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 11, 2022
All of that was actually accurate (and Gobert has been the better this season) but it could have been anyone — you, me, KD's mailman, etc. — and they would have been chosen over Harden after he forced his way out of Brooklyn on Thursday.
It was likely a bit of trolling on LeBron James' part that he kept not choosing Harden just to see what Durant would do.
After being the butt of the joke last year, the Jazz guys were at least kind of in on it this time around.
Mitchell and Gobert will once again play on separate teams at the All-Star Game, with Gobert playing on Team Durant and Mitchell for Team LeBron. Mitchell was James' fifth pick of the reserve round.
Team LeBron
Starters
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers).
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks).
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors).
DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls).
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets).
Reserves
Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks).
Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers).
Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns).
Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat).
Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz).
Fred Van Vleet (Toronto Raptors).
James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers).
Team Durant
Starters
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers).
Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies).
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors).
Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks).
Reserves
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns).
Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves).
Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls).
Dejounte Murray (San Antonio Spurs).
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks).
LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets).
Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz).
The All-Star Game, which is being held in Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, will be broadcast on TNT at 6 p.m. MST on Sunday, Feb. 20.
