WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be captains at the upcoming All-Star game, the NBA announced on Thursday.

The captains will draft the eight remaining players from the starter pool and then all 14 players from the reserve pool, making selections without regard to a player's conference affiliation.

Along with James, the Western Conference starter pool includes the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (guard) and Kevin Durant (frontcourt), the Oklahoma City Thunder's Paul George (frontcourt) and the Houston Rockets' James Harden (guard).

In the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo (frontcourt) is joined in the starter pool by the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (frontcourt), the Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving (guard), the Toronto Raptors' Kawhi Leonard (frontcourt) and the Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker (guard).

The reserves (seven players from each conference) will be announced on January 31 while James and Antetokounmpo will make their selections on February 7. The 2019 NBA All-Star game will take place in Charlotte on February 17.