We are just one day from the 2020 NBA All-Star weekend taking place in the Windy City, Chicago. A fun-filled weekend including top athletes, intense competition and celebrities from all over. A total of seven different competition events all weekend long, you won’t want to miss out on the action.
Starting this Friday, February 14th at 7:00 PM ET, the 18th Annual All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles will take place. Broken down into two teams, lead by Micheal Wilbon for the home team and Stephen A. Smith for the away team. Each combined with a range of celebrities from recording artists, actors/actresses, and other professional athletes. Only a few have true professional basketball experience. WNBA’s Chelsea Gray and A’Ja Wilson and Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson who both were picked in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft. The celebrity game starts the All-Star weekend on a lighter note with hilarious entertainment before the real competition begins.
After the Celebrity Game, the NBA Rising Stars event will take place at 9:00 PM ET, the USA vs World. The game will definitely be a highlight of the weekend, with top young players in the NBA. Participants either in their rookie or sophomore season, the fans will be able to see what the future holds for the NBA. Since the format change in 2015 creating the USA vs World, team World is currently winning the series 3-2.
On Saturday, the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will begin at 8:00 PM ET. The night is broken down into three events: Taco Bell Skills Challenge, MTN Dew 3-point contest, and AT&T Slam Dunk contest. Showcasing the best ball handlers, shooters and dunkers in the game today. With only one winner for each event, this is when the bragging rights really begin.
2019 Taco Bell Skills Challenge winner Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics returns to the floor looking to become back to back champion. Competing against eight other players, including two, Patrick Beverley and Spencer Dinwiddie, who have won it in past years.
For the MTD Dew 3-point contest, 2019 winner Joe Harris from the Brooklyn Nets looks to keep his throne as champion. If so, Harris will become the seventh player to win back to back years in the 3-point contest.
Finishing the night will be the AT&T Slam Dunk contest. With no returning selections from last year, the floor is open to anyone. Milwaukee Bucks Pat Connaughton will compete in his first dunk contest. Orlando Magic Aaron Gordon who was the 2016 runner-up and Miami Heat Derrick Jones Jr. who was the 2017 runner-up. Lastly, Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard who won the Slam Dunk title back in 2008 will be participating once again.
To close out the weekend, Sunday will be the 69th Annual NBA All-Star game at 8:00 PM ET. After changing the format last year, the top voted players from the East and West are allowed to cross conferences to pick their roster in a draft. Once again, King James and “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokoumpo are this year’s team captains. Last year Team LeBron won by three points, 148-145.
Due to the unfortunate events that took the lives of nine people including 18-time NBA All-Star and 5-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant, Team LeBron will wear No. 2 and Team Giannis will wear No. 24 to honor both.
The structure of the game will also change. The first three quarters will be played for a Chicago-based charity of the captains choosing. Starting at zero each quarter and playing a total of 12 minutes, the winner earns $100,000 to its charity. For the fourth quarter, however, 24 points will be added to the team with the highest point total from all three quarters, making that the golden number either team needs to hit first to win. There will be no clock in the final quarter. The winning team will donate an extra $200,000 to their charity.
Whether you’re a basketball fan or not, All-Star Weekend is fun for all. So sit back, relax and enjoy a different style of play this weekend.
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