The Shooting Stars event returns to NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time since 2015
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Shooting Stars event returns to the NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time since 2015.
The three-player-per-team event will take place Saturday at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, and will replace the skills competition this year.
Announcement
Allan Houston, a former Shooting Stars standout who retired in 2005, is joined by current New York Knicks players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on Team Knicks.
Ron Harper Sr., who retired in 2001, is turning a family business into Team Harper with sons Ron Harper Jr. of Boston and Dylan Harper of San Antonio.
Richard Hamilton, who retired in 2015, leads the All-Star Team along with Toronto’s Scottie Barnes and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren.
In homage to their alma mater Duke, retired NBA player Corey Maggette joins Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson on Team Cameron.
The two-round format sees all four teams compete in the first round, with the top two advancing to the final. Teams have 70 seconds to score points as they rotate through seven designated shooting positions around the court, with all three players on a team shooting at each point in a set order.
Announcement
The dunk contest will crown a new champion.
Three-time winner Mac McClung, currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, will not participate. He was the only competitor in history to have a perfect contest, scoring 50 points from every judge on all of his dunks last year in San Francisco.
It will be a four-man field for the fifth straight year: San Antonio’s Carter Bryant, the Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes, Miami’s Keshad Johnson and Orlando’s Jase Richardson.
The eight-player field for the 3-point contest includes two-time champion Damian Lillard and 2018 winner Devin Booker.
Lillard won his first title in 2023 while playing for Portland. He won it again the following year with Milwaukee. Now he’s back with the Trail Blazers, though he won’t play this season as he rehabs from a torn left Achilles tendon.
Announcement
The contest pits the old guard against the newcomer.
Donovan Mitchell, 29-year-old Cleveland veteran, leads the league with 185 3-pointers made. Kon Knueppel, a 20-year-old standout rookie for Charlotte, is close behind with 183. Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey is also among the league leaders.
Defending champion Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat will not return. Also absent is Golden State’s Stephen Curry, the 2021 winner and one of the greatest 3-point shooters in league history.
Miami’s Norman Powell may have a slight edge. Last season he played for the Los Angeles Clippers in their new arena. Also on the field are Denver’s Jamal Murray and Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis Jr.
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