The NBA will kickoff its annual All-Star Weekend festivities tonight at the the United Center in Chicago, IL. Here is a guide to everything you need to know for the upcoming weekend.
Friday – 2/14
Celebrity All-Star Game
I’ve become a bit of a NBA All-Star Celebrity Game connoisseur, the game has become a fun thing for me to watch at 2:00AM later that night because I can’t fall asleep and the only thing else that is on is that weird magic bullet commercial they’ve been playing since 2002.
The Head Coaches will be Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon, with team Captains Chance the Rapper and Common.
There are some fun names playing in the game, Celebrity All-Star legend Quavo, Former NBA Stars Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, and the big homie Spice Adams.
THE PICK: Team Stephen A. You saw the tweet, Spice for MVP. (Stephen A. also has a secret weapon on the coaching staff.)
Rising Stars Challenge
Team USA will take on Team World for the 5th straight year in the Rising Stars Challenge. (It’s a game not a challenge but whatever.)
This game also continues to have the coolest uniforms.
Team World is 3-2 all time under the Team USA vs. Team World format.
Luka and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are going to form an unbelievable backcourt but Team USA has more than enough to take care of business.
THE PICK: Team USA takes home the victory, Zion wins the games MVP award.
Saturday – 2/15
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
In the most looked over competition of the night the Skills Challenge has all it needs to be interesting this year. Three former winners (Tatum, Dinwiddie, and Beverley) will go against a lethal shooter (Middleton) and four future stars (Sabonis, Bam, Siakam, and SGA)
THE PICK: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – OKC, the kid has been unbelievable this year and isn’t getting the shine that other guys have. I expect him to go all out.
Mtn Dew 3-Point Contest
This 3-point contest is weird, I feel like half of these guys are either going to score 25+ or like 6. Harris and Booker have won the last two so expect their experience to edge out the competition.
THE PICK: Joe Harris – BKN, all he knows are sick beards and buckets.
AT&T Slam Dunk Contest
Dwight Howard is the only winner here but his win came TWELVE YEARS AGO. I don’t foresee him doing anything that will propel him to victory.
Pat Connaughton is explosive as hell and you know I’d love to root for a guy from Massachusetts but I can name four other Bucks that I’d rather see here.
Derrick Jones Jr. can jump out of the gym.
He easily could have won it the year Glenn Robinson III did. But this year he isn’t going against Glenn Robinson III.
Aaron Gordon.
This dude flies. He was, in many people’s opinions, robbed in 2016 in the Dunk Contest vs. Zack Lavine.
He came back in 2017 and put up a horrendous showing, scoring only a 38 and a 34, not even making the finals. So it’s pretty safe to say he’s been hit or miss. If he can capture the magic he had in 2016, he’s almost a lock.
THE PICK: Aaron Gordon – ORL, If he has an ounce of the creativity he had in 2016 he should walk away with the win.
Sunday – 2/16
69th NBA All-Star Game
nice.
Team LeBron will take on Team Giannis for the second year in a row. Team LeBron took home the victory last year 178-164.
The rosters have a lot of first time All-Stars.
There is a new format this year that will honor Kobe Bryant.
The uniforms for this game are also sick.
Team LeBron will wear #2 to honor Gianna Bryant and Team Giannis will wear #24 to honor Kobe.
THE PICK: Team LeBron 149-129, MVP – Luka Doncic. I fully expect Luka to have 18 points and 40 assists.
Hope you enjoyed, have fun watching the celebrity game!
KJ Sports Blog 