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Ahead of the highly-anticipated 2023 NBA All-Star weekend, here's what to expect from the three-day event.
This year’s NBA All-Star weekend is slated to hold on February 17 -Sunday February 19 at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
State Farm All-Saturday Night will bring together the NBA’s biggest stars in a celebration of the skills that make the NBA great.
With three action-packed events, it is always one of the most highly-anticipated nights on the NBA calendar.
As usual, this year will feature some of the most interesting team ups from the eagerly-anticipated NBA All-Star game to celebrity matches, to skill challenges before the NBA All-Star halftime show on Sunday.
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Here’s a line up of what to expect:
Kia Skills Challenge 2023 Participants
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Team Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Alex Antetokounmpo, Wisconsin Herd
Team Jazz
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz
Team Rookies
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
Starry 3-Point Contest 2023 Participants
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Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
Kevin Huerter, Sacramento Kings
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
AT&T Slam Dunk 2023 Participants
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Kenyon Martin Jr., Houston Rockets
Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers
Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
Jericho Sims, New York Knicks
When is the NBA All-Star Game?
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The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will be an exhibition game played on February 19, 2023, on the 30th anniversary of the first All-Star Game held in Salt Lake City in 1993.
It will be the 72nd edition of the event.
The game will be hosted by the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena and will also be televised nationally by TNT for the 21st consecutive year.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, qualified as the head coach of Team Giannis on January 30 while Denver Nuggets’ Michael Malone, qualified as the head coach of Team LeBron on February 1.
The All-Star starters have been revealed, and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will be team captains.
James and Antetokounmpo will select their teams in a draft held immediately before the All-Star Game.
James who’s Team has won the past five All-Star Games has been a captain in each of the five seasons the NBA has used this format.
He has drafted against Curry, Antetokounmpo (twice) and Durant (twice).
Team LeBron will play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and Team Giannis will play for Raise the Future. In total, the game is expected to raise over $750,000 for the Utah community.
Notable Absentees
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry is expected to miss out as he is still nursing an injury.
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant will not play in the All-Star game as he continues to recover from a sprained MCL in his knee, with a replacement yet to be named as per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson also will not play as he recovers from a hamstring injury, according to ESPN's Andrew Lopez.
STARTERS EASTERN CONFERENCE
Coach: Joe Mazzulla and staff, Boston Celtics
Giannis Antetokounmpo, C, Milwaukee Bucks
Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks
Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin Durant, F, Phoenix Suns *Out due to injury
Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
STARTERS WESTERN CONFERENCE
Coach: Michael Malone and staff, Denver Nuggets
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors *Out due to injury
Luka Doncic, G, Dallas Mavericks
Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans *Out due to injury
NBA All-Star MVP Award
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In February 2020, the NBA renamed the All-Star MVP award after LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away with his daughter Gianna in a helicopter accident in Calabasas, California the previous month.
Bryant, who was an 18-time NBA All-Star player, claimed the All-Star Game MVP award in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit share the record for the most All-Star Game MVP awards, having both picked up the accolade four times.
Bob Pettit, who lifted the 1958 NBA title with the St Louis Hawks, where he spent his entire career in the league, was voted the All-Star Game’s MVP in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1962.
There are four NBA players who have won the All-Star Game MVP award three times: Oscar Robertson (1961, 1964 and 1969); Michael Jordan (1988, 1996, 1998); Shaquille O’Neal (2000, 2004 and 2009); and LeBron James (2006, 2008 and 2018).
LeBron James who will captain his team in his 19th All-Star Game, has the opportunity to draw level with Bryant and Pettit in Sunday’s 2023 All-Star Game.
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