LEAGUES News
theScore's guide to NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA's top players descend on the Windy City to showcase their talents during All-Star Weekend.
Though no new events have been added for this year's festivities, the Three-Point Contest and NBA All-Star Game will both feature new formats.
Here's everything you need to know heading into the star-studded weekend in Chicago.
All-Star Celebrity Game
When: Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
TV: ESPN (U.S.); Sportsnet (Canada)
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon will coach this year's teams. Three-time Grammy Award winner Chance the Rapper will captain Smith's squad, which features 2018 All-Star Celebrity Game MVP Quavo.
Rapper Common will captain Team Wilbon. Social media personality Famous Los, who was named last year's MVP following a 22-point performance, headlines that roster.
Participants
Team Stephen A. | Team Wilbon |
---|---|
Chance the Rapper | Common |
Quavo | Bad Bunny |
Taylor Bennett | Hannibal Buress |
LaRoyce Hawkins | Kane Brown |
Anthony "Spice" Adams | Jon Batiste |
Marc Lasry | Alex Moffat |
Ronnie 2K | Chef Jose Andres |
Katelyn Ohashi | Famous Los |
Lil Rel Howery | Jidenna |
A'ja Wilson | Chelsea Gray |
Darius Miles | Quentin Richardson |
Rising Stars
When: Friday, Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: TNT (U.S.); Sportsnet (Canada)
The 26th edition of the Rising Stars game features 20 of the league's top rookies and sophomores, with NBA assistant coaches selecting 10 players apiece for Team USA and Team World.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young leads an American squad seeking its second straight win, while Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic looks to help Team World rebound from last year's 161-144 loss.
Participants
Team World | Team USA |
---|---|
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Pelicans) | Miles Bridges (Hornets) |
Deandre Ayton (Suns)* | Wendell Carter Jr. (Bulls)* |
RJ Barrett (Knicks) | Devonte' Graham (Hornets) |
Brandon Clarke (Grizzlies) | Tyler Herro (Heat)* |
Luka Doncic (Mavs) | Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies) |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) | Ja Morant (Grizzlies) |
Nicolo Melli (Pelicans) | Kendrick Nunn (Heat) |
Rui Hachimura (Wizards) | Eric Paschall (Warriors) |
Svi Mykhailiuk (Pistons) | Collin Sexton (Cavs) |
Josh Okogie (T-Wolves) | PJ Washington (Hornets) |
Moritz Wagner (Wizards) | Trae Young (Hawks) |
Zion Williamson (Pelicans) |
* Selected but won't participate due to injury
All-Star Saturday Night
When: Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: TNT (U.S.); Sportsnet 1 (Canada)
Skills Challenge
Each player will maneuver through an obstacle course testing participants' dribbling, passing, and 3-point shooting. The three-round competition will see eight competitors go head to head in a bracket-style tournament format.
This year's field features three former champions - including last year's winner Jayson Tatum - and four first-time participants.
Participants
Player | Team |
---|---|
Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat |
Patrick Beverley | Los Angeles Clippers |
Spencer Dinwiddie | Brooklyn Nets |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder |
Khris Middleton | Milwaukee Bucks |
Derrick Rose* | Detroit Pistons |
Domantas Sabonis | Indiana Pacers |
Pascal Siakam | Toronto Raptors |
Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics |
* Selected but won't participate due to injury
Three-Point Contest
This year's Three-Point Contest will introduce two deeper locations from which to shoot. Both spots are six feet back of the 3-point line between the elbow and top of the key. Shots from these spots will be worth three points each.
Players will have 70 seconds - as opposed to the usual 60 - to complete each round, attempting a total of 27 triples following the addition of the new deep spots. As in past years, competitors will have five racks of balls in the customary locations, designating a rack of their choosing as an "all money ball" rack.
Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris topped Stephen Curry in the latter's hometown to claim last year's competition.
Participants
Player | Team |
---|---|
Davis Bertans | Washington Wizards |
Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns |
Devonte' Graham | Charlotte Hornets |
Joe Harris | Brooklyn Nets |
Buddy Hield | Sacramento Kings |
Zach LaVine | Chicago Bulls |
Damian Lillard* | Portland Trail Blazers |
Duncan Robinson | Miami Heat |
Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks |
* Selected but won't participate due to injury
Slam Dunk contest
Former slam dunk champ Dwight Howard returns to the fold after an 11-year hiatus. The 34-year-old famously came out of a phone booth dressed as Superman during the 2009 edition of the event.
Howard is joined by Aaron Gordon and Derrick Jones Jr., both of whom are looking for redemption after previous runner-up finishes. Zach LaVine, who won't feature in this year's contest, edged Gordon in 2016 despite the latter scoring perfect 50s on three consecutive dunks.
First-time participant Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks rounds out this year's four-man field.
Participants
Player | Team |
---|---|
Pat Connaughton | Milwaukee Bucks |
Aaron Gordon | Orlando Magic |
Dwight Howard | Los Angeles Lakers |
Derrick Jones Jr. | Miami Heat |
All-Star Game
When: Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: TNT (U.S.); TSN 1/4 (Canada)
The NBA has revamped its showcase event. Team LeBron and Team Giannis will compete to win each of the first three quarters, with the victor of each frame earning $100,000 for a local Chicago charity. The first three quarters remain 12 minutes in length and will each start with a fresh score of 0-0.
The clock will be turned off for the fourth quarter. A final target score will be set based on the points accumulated by the leading team over the first three frames, plus an additional 24 points in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.
"For example: If the cumulative score of the first three quarters is 100-95, the final target score would be set at 124 points," the league explained in a breakdown of the new format. "To win the NBA All-Star Game, the team with 100 points would need to score 24 points in the fourth quarter before the team with 95 points scores 29 points, and vice versa."
The team that reaches the final target score first earns an additional $200,000 for its charity. Team LeBron will wear No. 2 jerseys and Team Giannis will wear No. 24 jerseys in tribute to Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. The All-Star threads will also feature jersey patches displaying nine stars to represent the lives lost in January's tragic helicopter crash.
Starters
Team LeBron | Team Giannis |
---|---|
Anthony Davis (Lakers) | Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) |
James Harden (Rockets) | Joel Embiid (76ers) |
Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) | Pascal Siakam (Raptors) |
Luka Doncic (Mavs) | Kemba Walker (Celtics) |
LeBron James (Lakers) | Trae Young (Hawks) |
Reserves
Team LeBron | Team Giannis |
---|---|
Chris Paul (Thunder) | Bam Adebayo (Heat) |
Damian Lillard (Blazers)* | Brandon Ingram (Pelicans) |
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) | Donovan Mitchell (Jazz) |
Ben Simmons (76ers) | Jimmy Butler (Heat) |
Domantas Sabonis (Pacers) | Rudy Gobert (Jazz) |
Jayson Tatum (Celtics) | Kyle Lowry (Raptors) |
Russell Westbrook (Rockets) | Khris Middleton (Bucks) |
Devin Booker (Suns) |
* Selected but won't participate due to injury