Rising Stars Challenge:

This Year’s Rising Stars challenge will be a little different from previous teams where there will be 3 games played. Team Pau will go up against Team Deron, and Team Joakim will go up against Team Jason. The target score this year is 25 points. Whoever is the winner of those games will go up against each other in game 3 with a target score of 40. 

Predictions: (Angel Ortiz Jr) Team Deron wins the tournament and Team Pau is the runner-up.

Predictions: (Travis Singleton) Team Joakim will win the tournament and Team Pau will be the runner-up. I feel like Mobley & Giddey have the IQ to get the job done to lead them.

Team Pau Gasol will feature: Paolo Banchero (Magic), Benedict Mathurin (Pacers), Jaden Ivey (Pistons), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Jose Alvarado (Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Kings), Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)

Team Deron Williams: Franz Wagner (Magic), Jalen Green (Rockets) (injured) , Alperen Sengun (Rockets), Trey Murphy III (Pelicans), AJ Griffin (Hawks), Bones Hyland (Clippers), Walker Kessler (Jazz), Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls) 

Team Joakim Noah: Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), Josh Giddey (Thunder), Jalen Williams (Thunder), Jeremy Sochan (Spurs), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets), Jalen Duren (Pistons) injured,  Tari Eason (Rockets) 

Team Jason Terry: Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite, Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite, Mojave King, G League Ignite, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Hustle, Mac McClung, Delaware Blue Coats, Leonard Miller, G League Ignite, Scotty Pippen Jr., South Bay Lakers

NBA Dunk Contest 

The 2023 Dunk contest will feature: Kenyon Martin Jr., Houston Rockets,  
Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers, 
Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans, 
Jericho Sims, New York Knicks

This will be the final event on Saturday Night and the most highly anticipated. 

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr)  I believe Mac McClung could potentially win the dunk contest this year but Kenyon Martian Jr could cause some problems and take it this year. Whoever is the winner I hope this event puts on a show as previous dunk contests have not lived up to the expectations. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) This is a no-brainer for me with the dunk contest winner. I’m rolling with Kenyon Martin Jr. I’ve seen his hops in person and he can jump out of the gym. I’m going with the over that he dunks on his dad in the dunk contest too. The dunk contest hasn’t been very good as of late and I’m hoping he can put on a show to bring it back so I can hear Kenny Smith saying “Superman is in the building”

NBA 3- Point Contest

The 3 Point Contest this year will feature these athletes: 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, 
Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr)  The 3-point contest is always a fun treat to watch as there are sometimes some upsets. I believe this year’s 3-point champion will be Damian Lillard and the runner up Jayson Tatum. Lillard has been known for his deep-range shots and there is no Klay Thompson or Stephen Curry this year to take home the trophy. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) The NBA 3 Point Contest should be headlining the All-Star Saturday Night in my opinion as good as it’s been in recent years. Now with that said I’m going with Buddy Hield for his 2nd 3 Point Contest Championship with Damian Lillard as the runner-up. Buddy has the experience and he’s already shown that he can put on a show with the lights on.

NBA Skills Challenge

The 2023 NBA Skills challenge will include three separate teams. This challenge includes passing, shooting, and a Team Relay. After they complete those skills challenges the winner will be determined by having the most points from completing those challenges. 

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

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr) I believe Antetokounmpo will take this challenge as two Antetokounmpo brothers are in the NBA and have the experience to win this challenge. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) I’m going with Team Jazz because they all have chemistry and play together on a daily basis so they have the advantage to me.

NBA All-Star Game

This year’s NBA All-Star Game will be different from previous years as a draft will take place before tipoff and Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are captains for the Eastern and Western Conference. 

Team Captains LeBron & Giannis:  Stephen Curry (will miss the game due to injury, Ja Morant will take Curry’s spot in starting lineup), 
Luka Dončić
, Nikola Jokić
, Zion Williamson (will miss the game due to injury, Lauri Markkanen will take Williamson’s spot in starting lineup), Ja Morant
, Lauri Markkanen, 
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 
Damian Lillard, 
Jaren Jackson Jr.
, Domantas Sabonis, 
Paul George, 
Anthony Edwards (injury replacement for Curry), 
De’Aaron Fox (injury replacement for Williamson), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Captain), Kevin Durant (will miss the game due to injury, Joel Embiid will take Durant’s spot in starting lineup), 
Kyrie Irving, 
Donovan Mitchell, 
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, 
Bam Adebayo, 
Julius Randle, 
DeMar DeRozan, 
Jrue Holiday, 
Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam (injury replacement for Durant

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr) Despite us not knowing who will have who, Giannis is determined to beat LeBron, and we could potentially see another classic All-Star Game on our hands. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) I’m just hoping for an EPIC game and it will be cool to see what players are joined together on the same team this year. I’m going Team LeBron because he’s been a great player selector with the 1st pick.