The All-Star weekend is inarguably one of the most exciting times on the calendar for an NBA fan. While the game itself has lost some of its allure due to a lack of intense competition in recent years, the energy from the fans for one of the marquee events of the year remains sky high.
This season is no different, with the league implementing a few new changes to try and deliver a better product for the fans. While those changes affect the actual game itself, the Saturday slate has remained mostly unchanged, with the usual competitions, including the 3-point shootout and the dunk contest, ready to entice fans like always. Here’s how and when fans can catch all the action from the All-Star weekend’s Saturday festivities.
NBA All-Star Saturday
Before the festivities of the night get underway, fans get a unique insight into the way the league is trending and the mindset behind some of the biggest decision-makers in the sport. The events for the Saturday slate begin with the NBA All-Star media day.
That is immediately followed by the commissioner’s news conference, with Adam Silver taking over the baton from the players and offering his perspective on all kinds of developments and questions from the sports media landscape. Immediately afterwards, the on-court celebrations of the evening get underway.
With the 3-pointer continuing to become a bigger part of the game seemingly every year, thanks to the revolution started by Stephen Curry in the mid-2010s, the 3-point contest has become among the most sought-after events across sports. With veteran aces like Damian Lillard in the mix, it typically promises to be an intense affair.
However, one of the more exciting events of the evening is a fan favorite that is returning to the event after a 10-year absence. After 2015, it is the first time that fans are being treated to a Shooting Stars contest, with four teams set up for the competition.
Finally, a historic favorite, the Slam Dunk contest, will feature some of the most elite athletes in the game trying their hand at delivering the most creative and potentially rim-shattering dunks the sport has to offer, much to the joy of the onlooking crowd and people watching at home.
The slate for this year’s games is already set, so let’s take a look at the players who are going to be entertaining the masses in each competition this year.
First, the participants for the 3-point shooting contest:
1.) Devin Booker
2.) Kon Knueppel
3.) Tyrese Maxey
4.) Donovan Mitchell
5.) Jamal Murray
6.) Bobby Portis
7.) Norman Powell
8.) Damian Lillard (injured for the season, but competing in the contest)
Next, the teams with all the members for the Shooting Stars contest:
1.) Team All-Star: Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, and Richard Hamilton
2.) Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Allan Houston
3.) Team Cameron: Kon Knueppel, Jalen Johnson, and Corey Maggette
4.) Team Harper: Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., and Ron Harper Sr.
Finally, the contestants for the Shooting Stars contest:
1) Carter Bryant
2) Jaxson Hayes
3) Keshad Johnson
4) Jase Richardson
The schedule for NBA All-Star Saturday
The exact schedule and where fans can catch all the action are as follows:
- NBA All-Star Media Day: 2 p.m. ET on the NBA App and NBA TV
- Commissioner Adam Silver News Conference: 4 p.m. ET on NBA App and NBA TV
- State Farm 3-point Contest: 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
- Shooting Stars: Following the 3-point contest on NBC and Peacock
- Slam Dunk: Following the Shooting Stars on NBC and Peacock
