So far the 2021/22 NBA season has had a lot to offer, shaky starts, broken records, redemption heroes, breakout stars and trade deadline dramas. For the first half of the season that’s a lot so All Star Weekend couldn’t have come at a better time! It’s the weekend for players, fans and celebrities alike to take a breather, recharge and have fun with show stopping spectacles we usually can’t see during the regular season.
We know Jalen Green can jump, but just how high can he get? Trae Young is all about the 3’s but can he pull the 3 point trigger the fastest? Are the Antetokounmpo brothers the most skilled trio in the league? And will LeBron James win the Kobe Bryant All Star Game MVP Trophy in his home state of Cleveland? The ball players aren’t the only one’s putting on a show as off-court megastars join the party too. Usher, Mary J Blige, DJ Khalid, Lil Wayne, Gunna, Tiffany Haddish and basketball favourite Spike Lee are just some of the names lending a hand amongst the festivities.
Truly a show like no other, but where do you start? Here’s a guide through what’s happening over the world’s most star studded weekend, Welcome to the 2022 NBA All Star Weekend.
Stars off the court and now on it too
Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Friday Feb 18
The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will tip off with the Ruffles Ridges 4-point Shooting Competition. Ruffles and the NBA will donate $4,000 to support the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for every shot made from behind the line, with a minimum of $40,000.
The Celebrity Game rosters feature 21 participants, including Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and seven recording artists in Anuel AA, Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Jack Harlow, Machine Gun Kelly, Quavo and Anjali Ranadive. Did you know these people had handles and could get buckets? We may be in for a surprise.
A new star will be born
Clorox Rising Stars, Friday Feb 18
Under a new format for Clorox Rising Stars, four teams of seven players will compete in a mini-tournament consisting of three games. This is the arena for rooks and sophomores to break out of the system and show us why they were top prospects or why they should have been picked higher.
Best trio combo – Family? Team? Or raw young talent?
Taco Bell® Skills Challenge, Feb 19
Three teams of three players will compete in a new format for the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge, with the teams composed of three Antetokounmpo brothers (Giannis and Thanasis of the Milwaukee Bucks and Alex of Raptors 905), three Cleveland Cavaliers players (Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley) and three NBA rookies (Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons and Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder).
The competition will consist of four rounds and test shooting, passing and dribbling ability, culminating with the top two teams from the first three rounds competing in the fourth and final round, where the winning team will be the one that makes a half-court shot in the fastest time.
A game of 3’s
MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest, Feb 19
Four 2022 NBA All-Stars are part of the field for the MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest: Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), Fred VanVleet (Toronto Raptors) and Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks). It’s time for these sharp shooters to go trigger happy but don’t rule out shooting veteran Patty Mills to take the kids to school.
This year to spice things up The Dew Zone has been introduced 6 feet behind the 3-point line with 2 balls at 3 points each. We know Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry can, but who else can shoot from the logo when it counts?
Watch that boy fly
AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, Feb 19
A first-time champion will be crowned in AT&T Slam Dunk. Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) and Juan Toscano-Anderson (Golden State Warriors) are set to make their event debuts, and Obi Toppin (New York Knicks) returns for his second appearance after finishing as the runner-up last year. Will Obi Toppin win with experience? Or will Jalen Green show us just how high he can get.
Mama, there goes that man
NBA All-Star Around the World, Feb 20
What do you get when you let two of the best players in history pick teams for a pick up game? Throw out all the playbooks it’s time for a show. Everyone wants the ball, everyone wants to score but every play comes with a bit of extra flare.
Team LeBron takes on Team Durant to close out the weekend in an extra special NBA All-Star game as the All-Star game MVP wins the first of a redesigned Kobe Bryant Trophy. Each dimension and design feature of this MVP Award represents an achievement in the late Kobe Bryant’s career. From years in the league, number of championships, the numbers he wore and all star selections, this is the pure embodiment of Mamba Mentality. No better way to pay homage than watching the best of the best join forces to give the closest thing there is to a real life fantasy ball game.
