The NBA All-Star break doesn’t actually symbolize the midway level of the season. Most groups have performed round 60 video games to date, which might equate to about 73 % of the 82-game common season. The symbolic “second half” is de facto the stretch run earlier than the playoffs the place groups will struggle for seeding and gamers will put up their closing arguments for particular person awards.
Before the playoff push actually begins, the NBA’s finest and brightest will likely be in Salt Lake City, Utah for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. Festivities get underway on Friday, Feb. 17 with the NBA Celebrity Game and and Rising Stars Challenge. The dunk contest, three-point contest, and expertise problem will likely be held on Saturday, and the All-Star Game itself will likely be held on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The All-Star draft will likely be held one hour earlier than the sport with main vote-getters LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo serving as captains, and each will likely be broadcast on TNT.
While the All-Star Game is the crown jewel of the weekend on Sunday, oftentimes the dunk contest and three-point content material on Saturday will steal the present. This yr’s full discipline of individuals in All-Star Saturday have been introduced, and it needs to be a enjoyable night time for everybody concerned. Here’s our full preview of All-Star Saturday, with predictions for who will win every occasion.
2023 NBA dunk contest predictions, preview, and time
All-Star Saturday kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. The dunk contest would be the third and ultimate occasion of the night time. You can guess on the dunk contest at DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a have a look at who’s competing:
Ok.J. Martin, F, Houston Rockets: KJ Martin is the son of Kenyon Martin, the previous No. 1 general choose within the 2000 NBA Draft. Kenyon Junior is a 22-year-old ahead for the Houston Rockets who’s beginning to carve out a job as a combo ahead in his third season. While KJ is a pair inches shorter than his dad at 6’6, he’s some of the explosive leapers within the league and is likely to be the favourite to win this competitors. Martin put down the most effective dunks of the season earlier this month:
Mac McClung, G, Delaware Blue Coats/Philadelphia 76ers: McClung hasn’t performed in an NBA recreation this season, however the G League guard within the 76ers’ system was invited anyway so as to add some pleasure to the competition. McClung was a mixtape star as a highschool participant, and went on to have a strong school profession at each Texas Tech and Georgetown. He’s solely appeared in two NBA video games — with the Lakers and Bulls — since coming into the league, however he nonetheless has a giant fanbase from his days as a prospect. McClung is a good leaper whose dunks will look even cooler as a result of he’s solely 6’2. This is McClung’s large second within the highlight, and he guarantees to have one thing good able to go when the lights come on.
Trey Murphy III, F, New Orleans Pelicans: Murphy is in his second yr with the Pelicans. The 6’9 wing is usually identified for his capturing capability, however he’s been dunking the hell out of the ball all season. Murphy already has 62 dunks this yr after dunking simply 17 instances final season as a rookie. The Pelicans lobbied to get him on this contest, and the NBA went with it.
Jericho Sims, C, New York Knicks: Sims was a exercise warrior when he entered the draft out of Texas a pair years in the past. The 6’10 middle recorded a 44.5-inch max vertical, which is likely one of the finest ever within the historical past of the draft mix. Big males often have a tough time wowing the judges in a dunk contest, however Sims’ leaping capability is so spectacular that he shouldn’t have any drawback undertaking that. He’s well-known for getting his eyes above the rim on his dunks.
2023 NBA dunk contest predictions
I’m going to go together with Martin. Sims’ leaping is spectacular, however I’m undecided he has the flexibleness or creativity to shine on this occasion. Martin has quietly had a pleasant season for a horrible Rockets group, and it appears like a giant exhibiting on this contest may assist him turn into a family identify.
2023 NBA three-point contest predictions, preview, and time
The three-point contest would be the second occasion of All-Star Saturday after the Skills Challenge. Here’s a have a look at the sector:
- Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers: Haliburton likes to remind people who some draft analysts thought his shot was too gradual and too funky to translate to the NBA when he entered the draft out of Iowa State. The first-time All-Star has made the leap largely as a result of he’s an excellent shooter: he’s made 39.9 % of the 346 threes he’s tried this yr.
- Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat: Herro is extra of a pure scorer than a pure shooter, however his capability to hit photographs off the dribble or the catch is a key ingredient to his success. His taking extra threes than ever earlier than this yr with the Heat (greater than eight makes an attempt per recreation), however his share has ticked down a bit to simply under 37 %.
- Buddy Hield, G, Indiana Pacers: It appears like simply yesterday that Hield was probably the most electrical scorer in school basketball at Oklahoma, however someway he’s already 30 years previous. Hield has gained this occasion earlier than in 2020 and stays on of probably the most correct shooters within the league. He’ll be among the many favorites to win the competition.
- Kevin Huerter, G, Sacramento Kings: Huerter has had a breakout season in Sacramento following an offseason commerce from the Hawks. The 6’8 wing is likely one of the finest motion shooters within the league, which may assist him as he runs across the arc to shoot off the racks. He brazenly campaigned for an invitation to this contest on the Lowe Post podcast earlier this season. Let’s see him again it up.
- Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers: Lillard is someway having maybe the perfect season of his Hall of Fame profession at age-32 for the Trail Blazers. He’d been placing up league-leading scoring numbers for the reason that calendar turned to 2023, and continues to be some of the lethal pull-up shooters on the planet. He’s taking a profession excessive 11.2 makes an attempt per recreation from three this yr, and he’s hitting them at his profession common of 37 %.
- Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz: Markkanen could have the hometown followers behind him in Utah, nevertheless it’s honest to surprise if the stress will get to him. The 25-year-old ahead has had a exceptional breakout season for the Jazz, changing into a first-time All-Star and placing himself in place to win the league’s Most Improved Player award. He’s lastly residing as much as his school billing as a shooter by hitting a career-best 41.2 % of his threes.
- Julius Randle, F, New York Knicks: Randle is the harm substitute for Anfernee Simons. He’s loved a pleasant bounce-back yr as a shooter after struggling final season, however he’s nonetheless solely hitting 33.8 % of his triples. He’s fairly clearly the worst shooter on this contest.
- Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics: Tatum has put his identify within the MVP dialog this season by being the perfect participant on the perfect group within the NBA. He’s solely hitting 35.7 % of his threes, however he not often will get a simple catch-and-shoot try with opposing defenses all the time keyed in on taking away his scoring probabilities. Tatum and Lillard are the 2 greatest names on this contest, and will probably be fascinating to see if they will out-shoot everybody else.
What are NBA three-point contest guidelines?
Each competitor is allotted 70 seconds for the course. There’s a most of 27 balls out there in 5 areas across the court docket. “Money balls” will likely be positioned on the finish of every rack and are value two factors. There can even be one rack full of cash balls. The three gamers with the best rating from the opening spherical advances to the championship spherical. From the NBA: “Like last season’s three-point contest, there will also be two Mountain Dew Zone spots further back on the wings with one ball worth three points.”
Read extra on the three-point contest guidelines right here.
2023 NBA three-point contest predictions
We’ll choose Damian Lillard to win the three-point contest. He’s on hearth capturing the ball proper now, and he feels destined to win this competitors at the very least as soon as.
2023 NBA Skills Challenge predictions, preview, and time
The expertise problem would be the first occasion of All-Star Saturday. It encompasses a new format than the one we’ve seen the previous few years with three groups :
Team Rookies
- Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith Jr. make up the rookie group.
Team Jazz
- Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton will symbolize the Jazz in Utah.
Team Antetokounmpo
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Kostas and Alex will compete because the third group.
2023 NBA expertise contest guidelines
There will likely be three rounds within the expertise problem adopted a championship spherical to find out the winner. Here’s the way it works.
• Shooting spherical: There will likely be 5 completely different spots on the ground between 10-feet and 30-feet. Players will shoot from every location with their teammates rounding. Shot have completely different values based mostly on location. Players can’t shoot the identical shot twice. The winner of the primary spherical will get 100 factors towards their group rating.
Passing spherical: Players could have 30 seconds to move into three transferring targets. The passes could have completely different values based mostly on how tough they’re. “Each team must make at least one pass attempt at each target, and individual players cannot make consecutive passes at the same target.” The profitable group will earn 100 factors in the direction of their rating.
Relay spherical: There will likely be a relay course all gamers from the group should full. The course will likely be timed and quickest time wins. The course consists of outlet passing right into a transferring goal from the baseline, a dribbling problem by cones, a brief shot close to the basket, a three-pointer from the nook in opposition to a defender, and a full court docket dash to attain. The profitable group will earn 200 factors to the rating.
Final spherical — half-court shot: The two groups with the best scores will advance to the championship spherical. Teams should make a halfcourt shot as rapidly as doable. The first group will set the time and the second group should beat it. The clock could have 90 seconds max.
Skills contest prediction
We’ll take Team Jazz to win.