NBA All-Star 2022 betting guide: Best bets to win dunk, 3-point, skills events

After a dramatic (and at times, melodramatic) first four months of the season, the NBA All-Star break is finally upon us, and with it comes some of the campaign's most exciting events.

There's rarely immense value in these contests, which oddsmakers price aggressively since there's such a small field and relative volatility from top to bottom. Still, we can mine some value for all three of Saturday's main events.

Here are the odds for each event from Barstool Sportsbook and our favorite bets to win each one.

Slam Dunk contest

The pricing of this contest is too short for there to be much value on anyone, especially given the unpredictability of the judges' voting. That alone makes it tough to justify laying the short odds on any of the favorites.

Co-favorite Obi Toppin is the only competitor with prior experience, finishing as runner-up to Anfernee Simons a year ago. That was the third time in the last five years that a guard won the event, which makes this an uphill battle for Toppin. And while the 6-foot-9 Knicks forward may be the most experienced competitor in this event, he's also the only one with a limited bag of tricks, lest he repeat a dunk he already attempted in 2021.

It's tempting to bet on springy rookie Jalen Green, who is the favorite at some books and whose oozing athleticism earned him the No. 2 selection in July despite not playing a minute of college ball. The 20-year-old Rockets guard should show out on Saturday, but I'm concerned he'll focus too much on the theatrics - NFTs, anyone? - and less on the dunks, which is a major no-no for this event.

Cole Anthony is an intriguing play as a fellow high-flying guard who's proven his in-game athleticism time and time again. The Magic sophomore could also bring out his dad - former NBA veteran and current broadcaster Greg Anthony - which should be a hit with the judges, many of whom are former players themselves.

If all were equal, Anthony would be my pick to win this event. But he's not, because Juan Toscano-Anderson is priced as a relative long shot in an event that often rewards the underdog. Remember when Glenn Robinson came out of nowhere to win in 2017? What about Hamidou Diallo in 2019?

It's not like Toscano-Anderson can't throw it down, either. Check out the Warriors forward's dunk over JaVale McGee in December:

Haven't we learned our lesson about pricing anybody as a long shot in the dunk contest? Toscano-Anderson has the most to prove on this stage with the best price on the board. Give me the underdog.

Pick: Juan Toscano-Anderson (+550)

Three-Point Contest

The Three-Point Contest has quietly become the premier event of All-Star Weekend, culminating in Stephen Curry's epic win in 2021. He won't attempt to defend his crown this time around, but there are still plenty of stars to carry the event.

Luke Kennard is the early co-favorite, which makes sense on the surface - the Clippers wing leads the field in 3-point percentage (44.8%). However, that comes on just 6.1 attempts per game - the second-lowest mark of anyone in the competition - which is a bad sign ahead of a contest that rewards endurance as much as efficiency.

Trae Young is the other co-favorite and likely should be the top dog in this event, given his quick release and prolific numbers from deep. His advantage could come in the "DEW Zone," which is worth three points but is 30 feet from the hoop. Anyone who's watched basketball in the last four years knows that the Hawks star has a shooting range that is virtually unrivaled in the NBA.

Yet there's a case to be made that another competitor is even better from the deepest range - and he's the best volume shooter of the bunch, too.

Fred VanVleet is so perfectly suited for this event that it's a surprise he isn't the favorite. The Raptors sharpshooter ranks second behind Curry in 3-point attempts per game (10) and hits 40.1% of them. He trails only Curry in shots from at least 25 feet (7.4 per game) and has a 38.6% success rate. He's also converting on 46.8% of his triples coming off zero dribbles - the most of any player with more than four such attempts per game.

VanVleet is a specialist across multiple zones, hitting 50% from the left corner, 44.4% from the right corner, and 39.2% above the break. Combine that versatility with his high-volume success and deep range, and it's hard to explain why he's priced in the middle of the pack. Sign me up.

Pick: Fred VanVleet (+550)

Skills Challenge

This event has never made any sense from a betting perspective, as big men tend to win despite all three primary tasks - passing, dribbling, shooting - being heavily favored toward guards.

That format will mostly remain intact this year, but instead of individual contestants, we'll be treated to three teams of varying makeups this time around. Team Rooks features rookies Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, and Josh Giddey; Team Cavs is headlined by Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley; while Team Antetokounmpos is, predictably, led by Giannis and his brothers Alex and Thanasis.

Right away, it's easy to see why Team Rooks is the favorite. Barnes is the "biggest" of the three but is adept with the ball in his hands. Allen feels like an odd fit for any of the tasks, while the less famous Antetokounmpo brothers would appear to be out of their element.

The entire event will come down to a half-court shot at the end. Because of the randomness of that alone, I wouldn't necessarily advise betting anyone. If you want action on this event, though, go with the rookies, who feel like a lock to at least make the final round.

Pick: Team Rooks (-112)

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].