Joe Paige | Sports Editor
NBA All-Star weekend kicks off this weekend, this year's events will be hosted in Indiana, the city’s second time hosting since 1985. Events will take place at both Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium. The events include the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Kia Skills Challenge, STARRY 3-Point Contest, and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest.
This year, the NBA is introducing their first ever 1 on 1 3-point competition. WNBA single-season 3-point record holder Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty will face NBA All-Time 3-point leader Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ionescu recorded 37 of a possible 40 points in the final round of the STARRY WNBA 3-Point Contest during last years WNBA All-Star weekend, setting both a WNBA and an NBA single-round event record while also winning the contest for the first time. While Curry has faced many formidable shooters before, we'll see if he can best one of the WNBA's best from behind the arc.
The Kia skills challenge will be on Saturday right before the 3-point contest. Like in previous years, 3 teams of 3 will be competing against each other. Team Pacers will consist of three Indiana Pacers players honoring the events in their home market, Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner. Team All-Stars consist of three of this year's all-star reserves, Trae Young, Scottie Barnes, and Tyrese Maxey. And finally, team Top Picks consists of the #1 picks from the last three drafts, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, and Victor Wembanyama.
After the 3-point competition, will be the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. This year's contestants consist of a mix of rookies, veterans, and even a g-leaguer. 8-year veteran Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Rookies Jamie Jaquez Jr and Jacob Toppin of the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks, and Mac McClung of the Osceola Magic. McClung took home the trophy last year in dominating fashion, we’ll see if he can pull it off again this time around.
The Celebrity Game is at 7 p.m. ET, the teams will be coached by ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith. Joining Sharpe on the bench as assistants are Peyton Manning and 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and WNBA Champion A’ja Wilson joins Smith’s coaching staff.
Sunday night the 73 All-Star Game takes place, they’ll be returning to the traditional format of East vs West. The starters for the east include Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid. For the west, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic. The event will tip off at 8 p.m. ET, on TNT.