LeBron goes No. 1 in All-Star draft, and Barkley goes for international flair with his squad

LeBron James got drafted No. 1 — again.

And while the NBA considers one day having a U.S. vs. the World format for its midseason showcase, there will be a taste of what that could be at this year's All-Star Game as well.

James, the player with the most All-Star appearances in NBA history, was selected No. 1 overall for the Feb. 16 competition in San Francisco. The All-Star draft was held on TNT, with analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley picking the teams.

“Old and legendary,” O'Neal said. “I'm going to go with LeBron Eduardo James.”

James' actual middle name is Raymone, but O'Neal has a habit of making up middle names for people. Either way, the 21-time All-Star was the No. 1 pick, just like he was when he entered the NBA in 2003.

And for this All-Star Game — or games, as will be the case — the NBA made up a new format. Determined to try to make the event more competitive, the NBA turned the All-Star Game into a tournament: The 24 All-Stars were drafted onto one of three eight-man rosters.

Barkley went with players that all have international ties: Nikola Jokic of Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada, Victor Wembanyama of France, Pascal Siakam of Cameroon, Alperen Sengun of Turkey, Karl-Anthony Towns (whose mother is Dominican) and Donovan Mitchell (whose mother is Panamanian).

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that the league has thought about a U.S. vs. the World game — but noted it would be complicated to make the roster selection fair. If it was the traditional format, with 12-man rosters, it would be easier for international players to be declared All-Stars. About 70% of the players in the NBA are American; about 30% are international.

“It may be, to me, a little bit of an old-fashioned concept where we come in as Americans and say, ‘We’ll take on the world.’ I’m not sure how well that would be received by our international players,” Silver said. “We’re experimenting with a new format this year. I haven’t given up on All-Star still being competitive, entertaining games for the fans. That’s certainly not what we were (last) year.”

Last year's game was the highest-scoring in All-Star history, a 211-186 final that was basically all 3-pointers and dunks.

This year's All-Star will be a four-team tournament: the winner of the Rising Stars competition for first- and second-year players on Feb. 14 will be the fourth team in the All-Star event. There will be two semifinal games, then the winners will play for the All-Star championship — and the first team to 40 points in those games win.

The winning Rising Stars team that advances to the All-Star Game will be called Team Candace, for Candace Parker. The others will be Team Shaq, Team Kenny and Team Charles.

The following is a breakdown of the rosters, with the player's overall pick spot in parentheses:

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1); Stephen Curry, Golden State (5); Anthony Davis, Dallas (9); Jayson Tatum, Boston (10); Kevin Durant, Phoenix (14); Damian Lillard, Milwaukee (18); James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers (19); Jaylen Brown, Boston (24).

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota (2); Jalen Brunson, New York (6); Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis (7); Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City (11); Darius Garland, Cleveland (15); Evan Mobley, Cleveland (16); Cade Cunningham, Detroit (20); Tyler Herro, Miami (23).

Nikola Jokic, Denver (3); Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee (4); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City (8); Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio (12); Pascal Siakam, Indiana (13); Alperen Sengun, Houston (17); Karl-Anthony Towns, New York (21); Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland (22).

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Atlanta Hawks Dominick Barlow during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks in front of Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, left, drives at Toronto Raptors' Kelly Olynyk, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. drives past Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, left, controls the ball as Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) defends during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) takes a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun, left, fights for control of the ball with Brooklyn Nets' Day'Ron Sharpe, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) poses immediately after sinking a three-point shot at the buzzer to defeat the Detroit Pistons in an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet, left, guard Payton Pritchard, center, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reach for a rebound in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Dallas Mavericks' Anthony Davis walks the floor during a timeout in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) goes up for a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, back, argues for a call with referee Jonathan Sterling in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, left, drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry looks at the official, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, drives past Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale, middle and guard Devin Booker, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates a 3-point basket against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to get past Memphis Grizzlies' Luke Kennard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States said Sunday it rescued a service member missing behind enemy lines since Iran downed a fighter jet, as President Donald Trump escalated pressure on Tehran with a new looming deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran showed no signs of backing down, striking economic and infrastructure targets in neighboring Gulf Arab countries.

The airman’s extraction followed a U.S. search-and-rescue operation after the Friday crash of the F-15E Strike Eagle, as Iran also promised a reward for anyone who turned in an “enemy pilot.” Trump said he was injured but in stable condition.

“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour,” Trump wrote on social media.

A second crew member was rescued earlier.

The fighter jet was the first American aircraft to have crashed in Iranian territory since the U.S. and Israel launched the war, striking Iran on Feb. 28. The war has since killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. Both sides have threatened and hit civilian targets, bringing warnings of possible war crimes.

Trump said last week that the U.S. had “decimated” Iran and would finish the war “very fast.” Two days later, Iran shot down two U.S. military planes, showing the ongoing perils of the bombing campaign and the ability of a degraded Iranian military to continue to hit back.

As Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump, in a weekend social media post, threatened to unleash “all Hell” if it isn’t opened by Monday. He has issued such threats before and extended them when mediators have claimed progress toward ending the war on agreeable terms.

The other jet to go down was a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft. Neither the status of the crew nor exactly where it crashed was immediately known.

On Sunday, Iran’s state TV aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of American aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising into the air. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down an American transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

However, a regional intelligence official briefed on the mission told The Associated Press that the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction, forcing it to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

In Kuwait, an Iranian drone attack caused significant damage to two power plants and put a water desalination station out of service, according to the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries were reported from the attack, the ministry said.

In Bahrain, the national oil company said that a drone attack caused a fire at one of its storage facilities, which was extinguished. It said the damage was still being assessed and no injuries had been reported.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemicals plant that they said were caused by intercepted debris. Production at the plant in Ruwais, near the UAE’s western border with Saudi Arabia, was halted.

The strike came a day after Israel struck a petrochemical plant in Iran that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said generated revenue that it had used to fund the war.

Trump renewed his threats for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face devastating consequences, writing Saturday in a social media post: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”

The waterway is a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments, especially oil and gas moving from the Persian Gulf to Europe and Asia. Disruptions there have injected volatility into the market and pushed oil and gas-importing countries to seek alternative sources.

“The doors of hell will be opened to you” if Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi with the country’s joint military command said late Saturday in response to Trump’s renewed threat, state media reported. In turn, the general threatened all infrastructure used by the U.S. military in the region.

But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told the AP that his government’s efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track” after Islamabad last week said that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran.

Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt were working to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, according to two regional officials.

The proposed compromise includes a cessation of hostilities to allow a diplomatic settlement, according to a regional official involved in the efforts and a Gulf diplomat briefed on the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, issued a veiled threat late Friday to disrupt traffic through a second strategic waterway in the region, the Bab el-Mandeb.

The strait, 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. More than a tenth of seaborne global oil and a quarter of container ships pass through it.

“Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?” Qalibaf wrote.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 people have been killed and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have died there.

This report has been corrected to show that Borealis is an Austrian company and not Australian.

Metz reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo. Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

Members of Lebanon's General Security stand at the Masnaa border crossing in the Bekaa valley, eastern Lebanon, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

A man, who fled Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon with his family, sleeps in his car used as shelter, along a seaside promenade in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Followers of Iraq's Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr chant slogans as they wave national Iraqi flag during a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

A bedroom is damaged in a building struck in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Pedetrians walk by a destroyed building within the Grand Hosseiniyeh, with the mosque visible in the background, which officials at the site say was hit by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes Tuesday, in Zanjan, Iran, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Police officers and their horses take cover in an underground parking garage as sirens warn of an incoming missile fired from Yemen in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Maya Levin)

A man looks at a destroyed building within the Grand Hosseiniyeh complex that officials say was hit by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes Tuesday in Zanjan, Iran, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)