The NBA All-Star weekend has always been one of the most fun, exciting showcases in professional sports. The festivities range from Friday to Sunday and are full of exciting events, fan interactions, and the brightest stars on the biggest stage. This year is shaping up to be no different, as recent changes to the event formats and a roster chock-full of stars should keep us glued to our TVs all weekend. Adding to the fun is the venue – er, the venues, I should say. For the first time, the All-Star action will be played in two arenas, with New York City and Brooklyn combining to host the spectacle.
The NBA put a fun twist on the weekend by having alternating events being held in one of the biggest cities in the world, split between a new, exciting franchise at the amazing Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the mecca of basketball itself: Madison Square Garden. The overall event should be exciting for New Yorkers and NBA fans from around the world, and there will be no shortage of fun. With a jam-packed schedule on deck, let’s take a look at all the events and make some predictions in the process.
Friday
Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Madison Square Garden
The All-Star Celebrity game is always a fun time, with several of the most recognizable actors, former players, and more taking the court. This year pits team Mike and Mike (coached by ESPN pundits Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic) versus Team Melo, coached by Carmelo Anthony and legendary Knicks fan Spike Lee. Some notable celebrities include three-time celebrity game MVP Kevin Hart, Little League World Series star Mo’ne Davis, former Knicks great Allan Houston, celebrity Nick Cannon, and more. Several of the celebrities will be mic’d up during the game, which always makes for a fun time.
Prediction: Team Melo defends home court while Mike and Mike bicker on the sidelines the whole game. Mo’ne Davis proves she’s actually better at basketball and takes home the MVP.
BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge
Barclays Center
The Rising Stars Challenge has traditionally has featured rookies versus sophomores, but this year the NBA put a different twist on the contest. Only rookies and sophomores will play, but this time it’s the U.S. Team versus the World Team. This game is usually one of the less-watched events of the weekend, but this could be a way to spice up the night and create a rivalry. Nothing inspires fandom like patriotism, and now the international fans have a team to call their own. The rosters themselves are stacked too, with players like Victor Oladipo, Mason Plumlee, and Robert Covington leading the U.S. Team against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Wiggins, and Nikola Mirotic of the World Team. In a game that features less defense than an NBA D-League game, this is shaping up to be a fun, high-scoring contest.
Prediction: As much as I love the United States of America, this World Team is seriously stacked. I could see Antetokounmpo running the court in three strides and dunking it every time, and I think he’ll be named MVP in a World Team victory.
Saturday
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night
Barclays Center
All-Star Saturday is a day of skills competitions, punctuated by the slam-dunk contest at the end of the night. It might be the most exciting day of the weekend, as each individual event always brings out the best in the competitors.
Degree Shooting Stars
This contest pits four teams in a shooting contest against one another. Traditionally, the teams have been from various cities, but this year is different. The rosters are comprised of a current NBA player, a former NBA legend, and a current WNBA player. This year’s contest features:
Team Bosh: Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins, and Swin Cash
Team Curry: Stephen Curry, Dell Curry, and Sue Bird
Team Davis: Paul Millsap (replaced the injured Anthony Davis), Scottie Pippen, and Elena Delle Donne
Team Westbrook: Russell Westbrook, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, and Tamika Catchings
Prediction: Is this even a real question? Give me Team Curry all day.
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
The Taco Bell Skills Challenge features some of the best point guards in the NBA demonstrating their passing, shooting, and dribbling skills against one another. The format of the contest has changed over the years, but the new layout should inspire the best competition yet. This year, the challenge will be a tournament style bracket, with the winners of each head-to-head matchup advancing. This ensures that participants will give it their all every round, and we could see a record being broken. Here is the bracket:
Isaiah Thomas vs. Patrick Beverley faces:
Elfrid Payton vs. Jeff Teague
Trey Burke vs. Brandon Knight faces:
Dennis Schroder vs. Kyle Lowry
Prediction: This contest is so hard to predict, given how skilled all of the competitors really are. I’m going with Isaiah Thomas, who is quick and always has a chip on his shoulder. In the city (almost) where his namesake brought Knicks fans to their knees, Thomas makes a name for himself.
Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
Ah yes, we have reached the big time. While all of the other events are fun and exciting, the three-point contest is a true competition where competitors want to dominate. This year, the lineup is so stacked that some people have called for it to be the last event of the night, rather than the slam-dunk contest. With the best shooters in the league all agreeing to participate, this might be the most-hyped three-point contest in NBA All-Star weekend history. The list of competitors is as follows:
Stephen Curry, Warriors
Klay Thompson, Warriors
Kyle Korver, Hawks
Wesley Matthews, Trail Blazers
J.J. Redick, Clippers
James Harden, Rockets
Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
Marco Belinelli, Spurs
This contest could literally be won by any of these eight shooters, with Korver, Curry, and Matthews all tied for the league lead in three pointers made. Belinelli and Irving have won the last two contests, and Thompson, Redick and Harden are no slouches themselves.
Prediction: I’m going with Klay Thompson, as his quick release and compact shooting motion helps save energy, which is usually the deciding factor in the later rounds of the contest. Then again, he could lose in the first round. That’s how deep this contest is.
Sprite Slam Dunk
The slam-dunk contest has been the foundation of the All-Star weekend for decades, with some of the most iconic moments in NBA history coming through this event. Think of Michael Jordan from the free-throw line, or Nate Robinson dunking over Dwight Howard. Think of Vince Carter singlehandedly reviving the dunk contest in 2000, with four all-time great dunks. This contest has had its fair share of iconic moments, and this year could provide some greats as well. This year’s contestants are:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Mason Plumlee, Nets
Victor Oladipo, Magic
Zach Lavine, Timberwolves
Between Antetokounmpo’s freakishly impressive length and LaVine’s crazy hops, the crowd will be in for a real treat. Oladipo is as athletic as they come, and Plumlee has the impressive size and the home crowd at his back. Any one of these competitors could steal the show and sign off All-Star Saturday in style.
Prediction: I think LaVine is going to come away with the victory here. The Greek Freak is impressive, but rumor has it that LaVine can dunk on a 13-foot rim, which is simply insane. If he can showcase his leaping ability in this contest, he will be the night’s big winner.
Sunday
NBA All-Star Game
Madison Square Garden
Not to be outdone, the All-Star game is a continuous stream of highlight reel material, as the game’s best go head to head on basketball’s biggest stage. With injuries to some of the original entrants, we get to see some guys participate who were passed over originally. The East leads the all-time series 37-26, but the West has won three of the last four editions. The official rosters are star-studded, and feature some of the most electric players in the league.
Eastern Conference All-Stars
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
LeBron James, Cavaliers
Pau Gasol, Bulls
John Wall, Wizards
Kyle Lowry, Raptors
Chris Bosh, Heat
Jimmy Butler, Bulls
Al Horford, Hawks
Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
Kyle Korver, Hawks
Paul Millsap, Hawks
Jeff Teague, Hawks
Dwyane Wade, Heat (injured)
Western Conference All-Stars
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Stephen Curry, Warriors
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
Tim Duncan, Spurs
Kevin Durant, Thunder
James Harden, Rockets
Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Chris Paul, Clippers
Klay Thompson, Warriors
Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Blake Griffin, Clippers (injured)
Anthony Davis, Pelicans (injured)
Kobe Bryant, Lakers (injured)
There are so many subplots here that make this game even more exciting. The Gasol brothers are both starting against each other, marking the end of a long and winding path for each of them. Once upon a time, the Lakers traded Marc for Pau, and now they are opposites in a game with the best of the best.
Not to be outdone, the eastern conference’s best team, the Atlanta Hawks, tied an NBA record by sending FOUR players to the all-star game. Kyle Korver was named Dwyane Wade’s replacement, but the Hawks have been so good and so balanced that it seemed more inappropriate to leave any of the four out.
Meanwhile, Tim Duncan keeps on dominating, as he makes his 15th all-star game appearance. Dirk Nowitzki was named to the team at the last minute, and he makes his 13th appearance. The old guard is still making its presence felt, while the new guys are ready for the spotlight.
Prediction: The All-Star game is usually all fun and games until the last few minutes, when the competitor in all of the participants comes out. I think the East will make it two in a row, narrowly edging the west. John Wall is my pick to win the MVP, and make some special highlights in the process.
Enjoy the festivities everyone, and be sure to tune in for all of the weekend’s events!