Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo will team up with his brothers again on the Saturday before the All-Star Game. Portland’s Damian Lillard will try to win the 3-point contest for the third time.
Indiana’s Buddy Hield will also look to repeat as the long shot winner, while Milwaukee’s Mac McClung could become the NBA slam dunk contest champion, just like he did in a competition at the high school.
The NBA released the full list of attendees for Saturday’s activities in Salt Lake City. It will be a busy weekend for 11 players across multiple events.
TRIPLE COMPETITION
Hield, the 2020 champion, is back and will be looking to become the eighth player with multiple titles in the 3-point contest. He will face teammate Tyrese Haliburton, the Portland duo of Lillard and Anfernee Simmons, Miami’s Tyler Herro, Sacramento’s Kevin Huerter, Utah’s Lauri Markkanen and Boston’s Jayson Tatum.
SKILLS COMPETITION
Antetokounmpo will captain the All-Star Game and choose his team to face LeBron James’ team on Sunday.
But first, he will join his brothers Thanasis and Alex in the skills contest, just like they did last year in Cleveland. They will face two other teams, the first consisting of players from the local Utah Jazz and another consisting of three freshman players.
The Jazz will be represented by Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton. The rookie team will consist of first pick Paolo Banchero from Orlando, third pick Jabari Smith Jr. from Houston and fifth pick Jaden Ivey from Detroit.
DUNKING CONTEST
McClung won the high school dunk contest in 2018 and will join the NBA field of Kenyon Martin Jr. of Houston, Trey Murphy III of New Orleans and Jericho Sims of New York.
BUSY WEEKEND
Giannis Antetokounmpo will compete in two events on All-Star weekend. Also present on Saturday and in Sunday’s game: Tatum, Haliburton, Lillard and Markkanen.
It will be a double weekend for six other players who will participate in the rising All-Star Game on Friday and Saturday: Ivey, Smith, Murphy, McClung, Banchero and Kessler.
snubbed
Brooklyn, Charlotte and Washington will have no representatives during All-Star Game weekend. For the Nets, it’s a technicality – Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were drafted this year while they were part of Brooklyn. Then the two left via trades.