NBA All-Star Weekend Preview

Stephen Young and Michael Vallone
February 14, 2019

All Star Weekend is one of the best times in the NBA season. Hosted in Charlotte, NC, this year’s All Star Weekend is set to be a good one. With the league’s best shooters in the three point contest, and basketballs highest flyers in the dunk contest, Saturday is expected to be a night full of exciting contests. The weekend wraps up Sunday night with the highly anticipated All Star Game. Now, let’s dive in and predict this weekend’s contest victors.

3 – Point Contest

The three point contest continues to draw more interest in the NBA as the league’s best shooters have been dropping in threes at an increasing rate. More threes have been attempted in the first half of the season than ever before. Expanding to ten contestants, this years contest will include notable players with 3-point contest titles like Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Damian Lillard, and raining champion, Devin Booker. The odds are in Steph Curry’s favor at 7-4, Booker at 9-2, Buddy Hield at 6-1, and Seth Curry and Joe Harris at 7-1. But you never know with these contests, everyone has a good chance at winning, as they are the most elite shooters in the world. Steph Curry is widely considered one of the best shooters of all time, and has been the favorite in years past. This year’s prediction is no different as Curry is expected to come out on top.

Devin Booker – Suns

Seth Curry, Trail – Blazers

Stephen Curry -Warriors

Danny Green – Raptors

Joe Harris – Nets

Buddy Hield – King

Damian Lillard – Trail Blazers

Khris Middleton – Bucks

Dirk Nowitzki – Mavericks

Kemba Walker – Hornets

Skills Challenge

The skills challenge brings together the guards and big men of the NBA to compete in a short kick off event on Saturday. It showcases the many skills these players must have to complete the challenge in the fastest time possible. It involves a variety of shooting, dribbling, and passing drills Notable players to watch will be already outstanding rookies, Luka Doncic and Trae Young, rising big men Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic, and NBA vet, Mike Conley. It is expected to be a tight battle between Doncic and Jokic with Doncic leaving victorious.

Mike Conley – Grizzlies

Luka Doncic – Mavericks

De’Aaron Fox – Kings

Nikola Jokic – Nuggets

Kyle Kuzma – Lakers

Jayson Tatum – Celtics

Nikola Vucevic – Magic

Trae Young – Hawks

Dunk Contest

In today’s NBA, there are countless freak athletes that can jump through the roof. New York’s Dennis Smith Jr. is no exception to this statement. As a second year player in the league, Smith has already made his mark as one of the NBA’s best dunkers. Despite his high flying and acrobatic dunks he has shown off in the last two years, rookie Miles Bridges is looking to give him a challenge. In his first year in the NBA, Bridges has already made a name for himself by having several powerful posters and high flying fast break dunks. After an exciting showdown between the two, Dennis Smith Jr. is expected to come out on top.

Dennis Smith Jr. – New York Knicks

Miles Bridges – Charlotte Hornets

Hamidou Diallo – Oklahoma City Thunder

John Collins – Atlanta Hawks

All Star Game

With the second year of the new All Star Game draft format, fans are excited to see Team LeBron matchup against Team Giannis. Unlike last year, 2019’s All Star Game draft was televised, making fans even more excited for the game this year. In addition to the all star selections, final year players Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade will be playing in honor of their great impact on the league. The high scoring game is a fan favorite, despite the lack of defense played. Crazy shots, powerful drunks, and flashy passes occur throughout the game and create a great amount of excitement in the crowd. At the end of the game, Team LeBron is the favorite to win the matchup and Paul George to win the All Star Game Most Valuable Player.

Team LeBron

Starters