NBA All-Star Weekend Preview

We’re nearing the latter half of the NBA season, and it’s All-Star weekend time. Let's take a look at what we’ll be seeing this weekend.

Skills Challenge

Contestants:

Team Pacers (Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Benedict Mathurin)

Team No. 1 Picks (Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero)

Team All-Stars (Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young, Scottie Barnes)

In the present day NBA where there seems to be a new change and event every year, the next change has to be the skills challenge. Seriously, does anyone have memories of anything in the recent Skills Challenges?

In the future instead of a boring pass, shot, and dunk, they should have players try to make threes blindfolded, make a full-court shot, or something of actual skill that will make fans want to tune in.

3-Point Contest

Contestants:

IND: Tyrese Haliburton

MIL: Malik Beasley

MIL: Damian Lillard

NYK: Jalen Brunson

UTA: Lauri Markkanen

CLE: Donovan Mitchell

ATL: Trae Young

MIN: Karl-Anthony Towns

Defending champion Damian Lillard takes on seven opponents in hopes of being the first player to win two 3-point contests back-to-back since Jason Kapono did it in 07-08. He would also become the first player in NBA history to win a contest representing two different teams.

The 3pt contest is slowly becoming the most exciting event of All-Star Saturday Night. Some of the best shooters go at it with the crowd noise elevating for every shot made in a row.

Steph vs. Sabrina

Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu is one of the coolest additions to NBA All-Star Weekend this year. Ionescu set the record for points in the 3-point contest round with 37 points, shooting 25-27 in the contest.

Stephen Curry has won the contest two times himself and is seen as the greatest shooter of all time. He will be using an NBA Ball with their 3-point line, while Ionescu will be using a women's ball shooting behind the WNBA 3-point line.

Maybe more shots will be made in this one compared to the Kevin Hart vs. Draymond Green matchup in 2016.

Dunk Contest

Contestants:

BOS: Jaylen Brown

MIA: Jamie Jaquez Jr.

NYK: Jacob Toppin

ORL G League: Mac McClung

Guess who’s back, Mac again. McClung will defend his slam dunk title against three newcomers in what should make for an entertaining dunk contest.

Jaylen Brown is the first All-Star to participate in the dunk contest since Victor Oladipo with the Pacers in 2018.

This will be the fifth time a Knicks player has appeared in the past six seasons in the dunk contest, with Dennis Smith Jr, Obi Toppin, and Jericho Sims participating in the past.

Jaquez will look to become the second heatle to win the contest this decade, joining Derrick Jones Jr.

NBA All-Star Game

This will be the first time since 2017 that the All-Star game will be played with the traditional East vs. West teams, and not a team captain draft.

LeBron went 5-1 in his reign as team captain from 2018-2023, and just broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of All-Star selections, getting his 20th this season.

Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Scottie Barnes and Paolo Banchero will make appearances for the first time in the game, all for the Eastern Conference.

Doc Rivers will be coaching for the Eastern Conference, despite just joining Milwaukee a few weeks ago. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch will handle the duties on the Western Side.

The All-Star game has been hit or miss pretty much every year in the past decade or so. If the players buy in, we could be in for a classic. Nevertheless, there will always be a few memorable moments, and someone taking in the Kobe Bryant All-Star game MVP trophy.

Will Harrison is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email wbh5205@psu.edu.