Sabrina Ionescu headlines a jam-packed NBA All-Star Weekend
The GIST: NBA All-Star Weekend has arrived, featuring three nights of star-studded events, highlighted by tomorrow’s Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-Point Challenge. Read up on all the fun ahead before letting us know which swish god you think will reign supreme.
Panini Rising Stars, tonight at 9 p.m. ET: Twenty-eight NBA rookies, sophomores, and G League (the NBA’s feeder league) players will square off in a three-game mini tournament tonight.
- Keep your eyes on San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren because the tension between these ultra-talented, long-limbed newbies has been building all season long.
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET: Following the Kia Skills Challenge and the Starry 3-Point Contest comes the most highly anticipated battle of the sexes since 1973: Stephen vs. Sabrina.
- Curry is the NBA’s all-time three-point leader while Ionescu is the WNBA’s single-season three-point record holder. And adding to the stakes, Ionescu will take her shots from the NBA three-point line (further back than the W’s) in this first-of-its-kind charity battle.
- Then after the swishfest, it’s time for the AT&T Slam Dunk contest, featuring returning champion, G Leaguer Mac McClung. Move over, Ben Affleck — the real Dunk-king is ready.
73rd All-Star Game (ASG), Sunday at 8 p.m. ET: The ASG will return to its original East vs. West format, featuring four 12-minute quarters and a traditional scoring system. One thing to expect? Lots of buckets and very little defense.
- The Eastern Conference squad is captained by Milwaukee Buck Giannis Antetokounmpo (pronounced YAHN-iss ah-dedo-KOON-bo) and features debut All-Stars Jalen Brunson (NY Knicks) as well as Toronto Raptor Scottie Barnes, along with 2023 ASG MVP, Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum.
- And leading the Western Conference team is none other than LA Laker LeBron James, who is making his record 20th (!!!) All-Star appearance alongside 2023 Finals MVP Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets and first-timer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder. Shine bright, shine far.
