4 storylines to watch for during All-Star weekend

The league's biggest and brightest stars have descended upon Los Angeles for NBA All-Star weekend 2018.

Here's what to watch for.

Awkward All-Stars

The point of picking teams for the All-Star Game was to create tension, and as the master of drama, LeBron James played right into it.

The two most awkward divorces of the last two seasons have been forced to reunite. James picked Kyrie Irving to be his teammate after Irving famously forced his way out of The King's shadow last summer. James also paired up Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant - the bitter split that gripped the NBA for the 2016-17 season.

Everybody will have to play nice in front of the camera, but reporters will be watching to pass along any hints of animus. These subplots are what make the league so compelling.

Curry's team should be more cohesive since he evidently made a point of sticking with existing teammate pairings. He has a pair of Wolves, a pair of Raptors, and two fellow Warriors on his side.

Donovan Mitchell's breakout

Utah is the least discussed franchise in the league. Even after winning 11 in a row, you barely hear a peep.

For the uninitiated, they have leading Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell, who plays like a young Dwyane Wade. Mitchell is already an advanced playmaker, and he pairs a gorgeous jumper with a propensity for high-flying acrobatics.

Mitchell figures to be one of the central figures in the Rising Stars Challenge for Team USA on Friday night. He will also feature in the Slam Dunk contest on Saturday. You'll definitely know who he is after this weekend.

Andre Drummond in the Skills Challenge

This could go one of two ways.

On one hand, it's not fair that Andre Drummond is thought as just a dunker. His assists have tripled from last season, and he's showing some semblance of a functional handle as he occasionally brings the ball up the court. He probably wanted to show that off, which is why he entered the Skills Challenge. A good showing could change his perception.

But on the other hand, this could go horribly awry. Dribbling through a few pylons should be fine, but Drummond needs to thread the needle with a tough chest pass, then drill a 3-pointer under pressure with everyone watching. That's a tough ask for someone who has made just five threes over his entire six-year career, and four of those are half-court heaves to beat the buzzer.

Joel Embiid and Rihanna

Embiid was curved back in 2014 by an unnamed celebrity, who told him to come back to her when and if he made an All-Star Game. It was never revealed who it was, but chances are good it was Rihanna.

It seemed like a distant dream when Embiid was laid up with injuries. He played in a grand total of 31 games in his first three years, and it was unclear if he could even play 30 minutes a night, let alone be recognized as one of the top 24 players in the league.

Embiid eventually overcame his health concerns and blossomed into one of the best centers in the NBA. He was rightfully recognized as a starter for the Eastern Conference, and it was widely assumed that he would try again with Rihanna having fulfilled her request.

Except, it was Embiid's turn to play hard to get. He coyly said it was time to move on after being named an All-Star.

(courtesy: Getty Images)

Of course, chances are good that Embiid was just posturing. He's been at it for almost four years, and it's Rihanna. You do whatever you have to do.