J-Speaks: The Lessons From Another Classic Between The Celtics and Lakers

In their first meeting back on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 20, the Boston Celtics dominated their archrivals from Hollywood in the Los Angeles Lakers. In their second tilt in the “City of Angels” the Lakers came with a much better effort and thanks to a last second fadeaway in the closing seconds got the better in another classic between these two championship organizations where a lot was learned about the two squads.

Thanks to a fadeaway jumper over the Celtics Jaylen Brown with 30 seconds left, four-time Kia MVP and three-time Finals MVP LeBron James put the Lakers (43-12) ahead 111-110 and would prevail over the Celtics (39-17) 114-112 on Sunday afternoon.

For James it was his first go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter/overtime this season to help the Lakers earn their fifth straight win overall and their third consecutive home win.

“Coach (Frank Vogel) drew up a play to try to get me in that spot and I was able to get a catch,” James, who had 29 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists versus the Celtics said of that eventual game-winning to ESPN/ABC’s Lisa Salters after the win. “You know Jaylen Brown had been playing me towards the baseline because I’ve been drop stepping all game. So, I knew if I just gave him a little shimmy shake to the baseline, I can come back middle and get my shot off and through the grace of God and a lot of hard work I was able to knock it down.”

In their first meeting, where the Celtics blew out the Lakers 139-107 on Jan. 20, James and six-time All-Star Anthony Davis combined for 24 points, 11 rebounds on 8 for 19 from the field, with James having 13 assists.

In the win on Sunday, James and Davis brought their A+ games with what James putting up the aforementioned numbers he did and Davis leading the way with 32 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks on 10 for 25 shooting, including 3 for 5 from three-point range and 9 for 12 from the charity stripe.

“Every game is its own challenge, and we knew it was going to be a playoff type of atmosphere today,” James, who went 9 for 19 from the field, including 4 for 10 from three-point range said postgame at his locker to reporters. “One because of the rivalry. Two because of how well they played against us in Boston. They beat the hell out of us there. And then three just on the simple fact just two teams that have aspirations of holding that trophy at the end of the season.”

For the Lakers to be that team holding that trophy at the conclusion of this season, they will need Davis to perform at the level he did today as the seven-time All-Star registered his 10^th game with at least 30 points on this season, which is the most since the late Kobe Bryant did that for the Lakers in the 2007-08 season, where they made it to The Finals and lost to the Celtics and Kevin Garnett, who was on hand to watch the game, Pierce, Ray Allen and former Celtic, now Laker guard Rajon Rondo in six games. Davis also had his sixth consecutive game of at least 25-plus points and 10-plus rebounds.

Davis really came throw down the stretch as his third three-point make of the game put the Lakers ahead 108-105 with 2:10 left to play making two free throws with 12.3 seconds left in the regulation and adding another with 6.7 seconds left that put the Lakers up 114-112.

“We know how big this rivalry is,” Davis said to reporters at his locker postgame. “It goes way back, way before some of us was even born. So, we wanted to make sure that we came in here and get the win, especially after the way they beat us in Boston.”

The Celtics had two chances in the closing seconds, but down by one (111-110), Brown pass to Jayson Tatum, who felt he was fouled on a push by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went out of bounds, counting as a turnover. Head Coach Brad Stevens contesting the called was issued a technical foul.

After a missed free throw by Davis, the Celtics final possession to try to tie the score with 06.7 seconds left ended in a turnover on an offensive foul when Tatum was called for a push-off attempting to create space for a last second shot against Caldwell-Pope.

It was a rough finish for Tatum, who had a brilliant game with a career-high tying 41 points on 12 for 20 shooting, including 4 for 7 from three-point range and 13 for 15 from the free throw line.

The third-year pro out of Duke University had 18 points in the second quarter and 18 points in the third quarter, but just four points in the fourth period, and just six points over the final 18 minutes as he was guarded for much of that time by Caldwell-Pope.

“We tried to send another body at him,” James said to Salters about the game plan to slow down Tatum. “He was killing it in the iso-game tonight, getting to his step back threes, getting into the lane. Making all his free throws. So just trying to change up a little, different coverages and allowed us to get back into the game in the fourth.”

“You know, I know what I’m capable of, and you know, my teammates know that,” Tatum said post game. “We know what each and every guy can do in here but we just want to win at the end of the day.”  

To put into perspective what Tatum did on Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, the now 21-year-old, who will turn 22 in March became the youngest player in the storied Celtics/Lakers rivalry to score at least 40 points, surpassing former Celtic, now ESPN/ABC studio analyst Paul Pierce, who scored 40 in a game against the Lakers at age 23. Two Laker greats in “The Logo” in Hall of Famer Jerry West and Hall of Famer to be in the late Kobe Bryant each scored 40 points against the C’s at ages 23 and 24 respectably.

“It was a step in the right direction,” the first-time All-Star said of his stellar performance against James and Davis. “I definitely looked up to those guys and know how great they are individually, so just trying to earn the respect of the guys I look up to.”

It was not enough against the dynamic duo of James and Davis, who had their 15^th game of each scoring at least 25 points each, which is the most by a Lakers duo since Bryant and Hall of Famer and current NBATV/NBA on TNT studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal did it 29 times in 2002-03. The Lakers are 13-2 so far this season when that occurs.

What this game also showed up close is the value of having a supporting cast around your star players.

The Lakers in the victory over the Celtics got 43 points from their bench, with Kyle Kuzma scoring 16 of those points, while reserve center in eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard had 10 points and seven rebounds.

That said, the Lakers did add more depth to their reserves with the announcement about 90 minutes after the game that they signed forward Markieff Morris, after he was bought out of his contract by the Detroit Pistons on Friday after they waived injured four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.  

While the Celtics got from the rest of the starting five alongside Tatum in 20 points, six rebounds and three steals from Brown; 16 points and nine boards from Daniel Theis; 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals from Marcus Smart and 10 points and nine rebounds from Gordon Hayward, they only got 11 points from their reserves of Grant Williams, Brad Wanamaker and Romeo Langford.

That in full effect symbolizes the absence of All-Star guard Kemba Walker, who missed his second straight game with left knee soreness. The Celtics are now 7-3 without Walker in the lineup so far this season.

“It was about who wanted it more,” Davis said. “With or without Kemba, they’re a tough team. They’ve proven they can win without him. To play a team like that in a playoff atmosphere is something you want. We just stayed with it. We know how big this rivalry is.”

Also, the Celtics were outrebounded by the Lakers 59-52, including 11-8 on the offensive glass, with the Lakers winning the battle in second chance points 18-8.

The Lakers also dominated the Celtics in the paint outscoring them 54-44 and scored 20 points off 17 turnovers by the visitors from “Beantown.”

The Celtics and Lakers has been not just one of the best rivalries in the National Basketball Association but one of the best and timeless in professional sports. That is especially the case when both teams are playing at a high level and have a legitimate chance to compete for the championship, which is the case this season.  

James told Salters during his postgame interview how six-time Kia MVP and six-time NBA champion with the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks came to the Lakers practice facility on Saturday where he talked about the rivalry itself between the Lakers and Celtics, and how important it is for the current Lakers led by James and Davis to appreciate being a part of it and establishing their own legacy in it.

“Being a Laker, playing against the Celtics. Seeing all the battles they had all the way since the (19)50s to now, it’s just an honor for me personally to be in a Laker uniform playing against a historical franchise like the Celtics and being with a historical franchise like the Lakers.”

The rivalry took on a very special meeting on Sunday because the second meeting of this season between the Celtics and Lakers occurred just 24 hours before the public funeral service for the late Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles early Sunday morning Jan. 26 West Coast time.

At the game on Sunday, the legendary 11-time champion with the Celtics Bill Russell was in attendance at Staples Center wearing a Bryant No. 24 jersey.

“I mean, that’s the respect,” James said to Salters about that great gesture done by Mr. Russell. “At the end of the day, we’re gonna go out and we’re gonna battle. We’re gonna test each other. We’re gonna cuss each other out, while we in battle. But at the end of the day, when you respect your opponent, and you give your all that you can, the respect is mutual.”

“And to see Bill Russell giving respect to Kobe, we would do exactly the same on this side. So, it’s a beautiful afternoon. A beautiful Sunday afternoon.”

Last month, the Boston Celtics blew the Los Angeles Lakers out in the first tilt between the two franchises that have won 17 and 16 Larry O’Brien trophies respectively. In the second tilt, the Lakers led by Anthony Davis and LeBron James outlasted the gritty C’s, who got a stellar carrier-high tying performance from previously mentioned first-time All-Star Jayson Tatum.

They finished their two-game season-series at 1-1 and the only hope is that they meet again in the NBA Finals for the 14^th time this June.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 2/23/2020 3:30 p.m. “Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers” on NBA on ABC Sunday Showcase, presented by Mtn. Dew with Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Lisa Salters; https://www/nba.com/games/20200223/BOSLAL/#/matchup/boxscore/recap; https://www.espn.com/nba/teamstats/boxscore/recap?gameid=401161484; 2/24/2020 12:30 a.m. ESPN news crawl and “Sportscenter” with Michael Eaves and John Anderson; and 2/24/2020 1 a.m. edition NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia with Chris Miles, Rex Chapman, and Stan Van Gundy.  

J-Speaks: Nets' All-Star Lead Guard Irving To Have Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

The Brooklyn Nets made a major splash the summer of 2019 when they netted two perennial NBA All-Stars in free agency. Coming into this season, the Nets new they would be without one of them as he recovers from injury. Now they will be without both their big catches in free agency over the summer.

After visiting a shoulder specialist the past few days, Brooklyn Nets (25-28) six-time All-Star lead guard Kyrie Irving will have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder that will put him on the shelf the rest of this season, General Manager Sean Marks announced on Thursday night before their national televised contest at the Philadelphia 76ers (34-21) on TNT.

“Last few days visiting with a specialist and it’s been determined that he will have arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder and be out for the remainder of the season,” Marks said. “So, he’s obviously upset about this, and we are here to support him, support the process moving forward with him and the rehabilitation. He saw specialist including our own people at HSS, and it’s been a group consensus at this point in time in this juncture is the best course of action.”

Irving, who joined the Nets in free agency this past summer on a four-year, $141 million deal had played in just 20 games this season.

The West Orange, NJ native missed 26 games from Nov. 16, 2019-Jan. 12 because of an impingement in that right shoulder.

When Irving has been in the lineup this season, he has played at an All-Star level individually averaging a career-high 27.4 points, 6.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds on 47.8 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range.

“I’ve said this before: He was better than I ever thought, a better player than I thought, and I had tremendous respect for him in Cleveland and Boston,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said about his impression of Irving this season. “Faster than I thought, more skilled than I thought, a higher-level competitor than I thought, much more physical than I thought. I don’t think people give him enough credit for how physical he is on both ends; how active he is defensively and what an attacker he is. That bodes really well for the future.”

Coach Atkinson added about Irving, “I really love the player, and I feel like we have a really good relationship. So, we’re in a good place there. Obviously, you want more reps, more time with him, but we’ll have time with him in the offseason, too, to connect and, when he gets healthy, to work with him a little bit.”

Those great numbers by Irving when he has played have only equated to an 8-12 mark for the Nets when he has been in the lineup in those said 20 games. With out him overall, the Nets are 17-16, but they began 9-5 early on without Irving, but have gone 8-12 since.

This also makes now five straight seasons Irving has missed a bunch of games because of injury. He missed 29 games in total in his next to last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016-17. Irving missed 10 games in 2016-17 season with the Cavaliers as well as 10 games in the 2017-18 season in his first year with the Boston Celtics, which includes their 19 postseason games where they fell one game short of reaching the NBA Finals. In his last season with the C’s in 2018-19, Irving missed 15 games due to injury.   

Irving did return from that right shoulder impingement in mid-January following a cortisone shot.

Irving had been on the shelf the last five games before the All-Star with a sprained right knee sustained late in the fourth quarter of the Nets 113-107 loss at the Washington Wizards on Feb. 1.

It was determined at that time with the other prized free agent signing of two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant still out recovering from a ruptured right Achilles sustained Game 5 in the 2019 Finals in June 2019 that having Irving play through the pain in his shoulder was not worth risking his left long term and that having surgery now was the best course of action. Taking another cortisone shot was one option that was not on the table, according to Marks.

“I think we look at our players’ long-term health as the No. 1 priority,” Mark also said to reporters on Thursday. “Kyrie has been adamant like the rest of us that he would take one cortisone shot and see how it goes.”

“We are looking at the big picture here. We are not looking at the next 2-3 months. We are looking at the next 2-3 years.”

There was a possibility for Irving to have surgery on that right shoulder during his initial absence. The organization and Irving came to the conclusion that getting a cortisone shot and see how his shoulder responded was the best path in hopes of Irving avoiding having to go under the knife altogether.

“A cortisone shot lasts as long as it can,” Irving said to reporters on Jan. 4. “You either continue to get cortisone shots, which is obviously detrimental to your health and your muscles, or you go get arthroscopic surgery. For me, it’s just about being able to go back out there after the right amount rehab, the right amount of rest and recovery and see what we can do for the rest of the season and then reevaluate after a few months.”

Thursday’s announcement closes the door on a disappointing first season for Irving with the Nets, where he played well at times, which included scoring 55 points in his new team debut in the season-opening 127-126 overtime loss versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (16-37), but has seen him also spend a one-third of this season watching games in street clothes alongside Durant, who in an interview earlier in the week with “Bleacher Report,” ruled out returning to the game action this season, even with video surfacing of him working out on the court shooting and looking great, and healthy.

The Nets had hoped to figure out how to fit Irving alongside Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Joe Harris ahead of Durant’s return for the 2020-21 season will have to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Right now, the Nets occupy the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference, leading the No. 8 Seeded Orlando Magic (24-31) by two games, three games on the loss side; lead the No. 9 Seeded Washington Wizards (20-33) and the No. 10 Seeded Chicago Bulls (19-36) five and seven games respectably.

Dinwiddie has played exceptionally well as a starter in place of Irving, averaging 22.1 points and 7.2 assists in 38 starts this season.

“That’s part of what makes it tough with the injuries, right? They lead very well by example in terms of their work with their rehab. Their championship acumen. All their previous experiences. It just would obviously be nice if they were playing,” Dinwiddie said during All-Star weekend to “NBA: The Jump’s” Rachel Nichols, Scottie Pippen, and Tracy McGrady on Feb. 14.

LeVert who missed 24 games from Nov. 14,2019-Jan. 4 with a injured right thumb that required surgery has scored 20-plus in four of his last five games, including a career-high of 37 points on 12 for 18 from the field, including a career-best six made threes in seven tries.

Along with the Nets needing consistent play from Dinwiddie, LeVert, and Harris, they will also need for the likes of Taurean Prince, who the Nets signed to a contract extension before the start of this season, Jarrett Allen, Garrett Temple, and DeAndre Jordan to raise their level of play as well.

If there is one thing that has been made very clear is from the perspective of the players is, they have complete trust and respect for the leadership that Durant and Irving have shown as they have rehabbed their injuries to get back on the court.

“Well obviously he’s won a championship. So, he knows what it’s like to play at that very highest level and he instills that type of work ethic in the groups and that type of long-term focus which is big time,” Dinwiddie said. “And obviously one of the most dynamic scorers in the league. So, he just raises our talent level from where we previously were as a group, as a whole, right? Him and K.D., they’re two elite level talents.”

Coach Atkinson did admit that Irving being ruled out for the rest of this season will force the Nets to start from square one in building their roster once Irving and Durant return next season.

“I think that’s the big thing,” he said. “You wanted some time to work things out, work on our continuity and obviously work on the chemistry of the team and how we’re going to use him (Irving). That’s the disappointing part. We’re not going to have that opportunity. We’ll have to start fresh next season and figure it out quickly. But that is the disappointing part.”

Hearing that and what Coach Atkinson said earlier about Irving is a surprising consider the fact that after a 117-106 loss versus the 76ers on Jan. 15 on ESPN said that the Nets were lacking in the necessary pieces on their roster to be a championship caliber team.

“We have complimentary young guys as well who’ve done a great job for the last three years,” Irving said. “So, collectively I feel like we have great pieces, but obviously—it’s pretty glaring that we need one more piece or two pieces to compliment myself, K.D., D.J., G.T., Spence, Caris and, you know, we’ll see how it evolves.” 

It is those kinds of statements, fair or unfair that really made his former teammates with the Boston Celtics turn their noses up at him a season ago. That said Coach Atkinson has confidence that this team is better with him and Durant on the court and that is something they hope can manifest itself next season, even though they will have to start that process from square one.

“I don’t know if there’s enough, especially when you throw Kevin into the mix,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a different structure, a different chemistry, different rotations.”

This season began for the Brooklyn Nets with major optimism with the additions of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Perennial All-Stars and NBA champions. The thoughts of having them and them bringing a title to New York were put on serious hold with Durant being declared out for the season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles.

With the lead the Nets have over the aforementioned Magic and the Wizards, and Bulls for the No. 7 spot in the East, the Nets will make the playoffs, but it looks like they will have an early exit against either the current No. 2 Seeded Toronto Raptors (40-15) or the East leading Milwaukee Bucks (46-8).

The hope now is that Durant and Irving can come back for the 2020-21 season healthy and clear headed on helping turn the Nets into a serious title contender.

“Ky is one of the most positive people I’ve ever been around this whole process of me knowing him, meeting him since he signed. I’m sure it’s just another testament to his look” Price said about Irving to the New York Post earlier this week. “It’s time for other guys to step up and be the players that they feel they want to be along with trying to help us win as many games as possible down the stretch.”  

They also have to decide if they want to re-sign Harris, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and if they want to give a contract extension to Allen.

GM Marks will have to make these decisions over this summer without having seen the full roster perform on the court for a full season.

“I’d be lying if I said I wish all our guys weren’t healthy for the whole time. It’s been kid of a roller-coaster year,” Marks said about this season for the Nets. “We’ve had Caris out as well. So, we’ve had multiple guys who’ve had these strange, unforeseen injuries.”

“But I have the utmost confidence in our performance staff, our doctors, all these specialists we’ve used as well. And also, the guys. The guys have fought hard with their rehab and obviously that’s led by Kevin over the course of the last four or five months while he’s been a Net.”

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 2/3/2020 3 p.m. edition “NBA: The Jump” on ESPN with Rachel Nichols, Jackie MacMullan, and Scottie Pippen; 2/14/2020 3 p.m. edition “NBA: The Jump,” on ESPN with Rachel Nichols, Michael Wilbon, Scottie Pippen, and Tracy McGrady; 2/20/2020 6 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “The Warmup,” presented by Ford with Stephanie Ready, Quentin Richardson, and Channing Frye; 2/20/2020 www.espn.com story, “Kyrie Irving To Have Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery; Nets ‘Looking at Big Picture,’” by Tim Bontemps; https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/bkn; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/gamelog/_/id/6442/kyrie-irving; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrie_Irving.

J-Speaks: Atlanta Hawks Second Half Prospects Post January and February Trades

The Atlanta Hawks entered this season with hopes of competing to make the playoffs this spring. Those hopes were dashed with the suspension of their starting power forward, early season injury to their starting shooting guard and their inability to consistently defend. Those unfortunate happenings have put a damper on a stellar sophomore season by the Hawks starting lead guard With a trade to add depth to their backcourt and then to their front court at the trade deadline, and a solid stretch of home games to finish out this season, there is some optimism in the ATL for better days ahead.

The Hawks (15-41), who the second half of the season on Thursday night versus the Southeast Division rival the Miami Heat (39-15) have not had a lot to cheer about this season. But the one bright spot has been the play of second-year floor general Trae Young.

Last season, the No. 5 overall pick out of the University of Oklahoma, whose draft rights  were acquired on the night in the June 2018 draft by the Hawks from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for No. 3 overall pick Luka Doncic has increased his numbers going from averages of 19.1 points,  and 8.1 assists making 1.9 three-pointers per game on an average of 32.4 percent as a rookie last season to 29.7 points (No. 3 in NBA) and 9.2 assists (No. 2 in NBA), making 3.5 three-pointers per game on an average of 36.9 percent. Young is also No. 2 in free throws made per game at 7.8 and in fourth quarter points at 8.7 per game.

The first time All-Star selection, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Team Giannis in the 69^th annual NBA All-Star Game on Sunday has had 27 games scoring 30 points or more, including an Eastern Conference leading nine games scoring 40-plus. He has registered 21 double-doubles so far this season, including two triple-doubles.

“I just think the game has slowed down a lot for me,” Young said on Feb. 13 to the “NBA: The Jump” crew of Rachel Nichols, Scottie Pippen, and Tracy McGrady. “Things that I was able to see in my first year. Just able to really reflect on myself this offseason. I knew going into my second year what to work on.”

“Coming in as a rookie, you don’t necessarily know what to work on going into your first year. But the game has slowed down for me and it’s definitely elevated my game.”

One of the big reasons early on is the fact that they did not have the other half of their one-two punch in John Collins for a 25-game suspension by the league for violating the anti-drug policy. The Hawks, who were 2-3 at the time of Collins suspension went 4-21 without him and basically saw their playoff dreams go up in smoke.

He has since his return from the suspension been terrific averaging 27.6 points and 12.2 rebounds on 64.9 percent from the field the last 11 games.

The team also lost sharp shooting second-year guard Kevin Huerter for 11 straight games from the middle of November to early December 2019 due to a left rotator cuff strain. Reserve guard DeAndre Bembry has been on the shelf in recent games because of right hand neuritis.

On Jan. 16 Hawks GM Travis Schlenk added some necessary depth and veteran presence in the Hawks locker room in unrestricted free agent to be in guard Jeff Teague, who played for the Hawks from 2009-16 and is No. 5 on their all-time list in assists.

Teague’s addition will the Hawks to get better guard play when Young is taken a breather on the bench.

At the Feb. 6 trade deadline, the Hawks added another young guard to groom in Derrick Walton, Jr.

The Hawks also added at the trade deadline depth to their front court first with the acquisition of first Skal Labissiere from the Portland Trail Blazers along with cash considerations. Then acquired center Clint Capela from the Rockets and center Dewayne Dedmon, his second stint with the Hawks, along a couple of Second-Round pick for Jabari Parker and Alex Len.

In Capela, the Hawks get a young big man who has averaged a double-double the last three seasons while shooting over 60 percent from the field four consecutive seasons. He is averaging 13.9 points, 13.8 rebounds (No. 4 in NBA) and a career-high 1.8 blocks in 39 games with the Rockets on 62.9 percent shooting.  

“(Young) puts a lot of rhythm on the offense,” Capela said about playing with Young last week upon his arrival to the Hawks. “It’s definitely the way I like to play. We definitely should be able to make some magic together.

Both Labissiere and Capela are out now with plantar fasciitis in his heel and a left knee injury respectably, and Capela will miss two more weeks with that aforementioned injury.

The Hawks say that Capela, who has not played in a game since Jan. 29 while with the Rockets because of the injury began “participating in modified shooting while continuing non-impact conditioning and strength work as part of his rehabilitation.”

Hawks also said that Labissiere, who has been on the shelf since Dec. 28, 2019 while with the Trail Blazers will be re-evaluated in two weeks.  

“It’s going to be big for us,” Young said to the NBA on TNT crew before the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago Sunday night about the acquisitions at the trade deadline, especially of Capela. “Two things we’ve struggled at this year is on the defensive end and rebounding. So, that’s two of the main things Clin can really add for us. He’s gonna be a really good piece for us.”

Dedmon began his second stint with the Hawks producing 10 points, eight boards and five block shots off the bench in the 140-135 win versus the New York Knicks (17-38) on Feb. 9. He followed that up with 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the 135-126 loss at the Orlando Magic (24-31) the next night. He had seven points, four rebounds, three blocks, three steals in the 127-105 loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers (14-40) on Wednesday right before the All-Star break.

“It’s a good feeling coming back to somewhere I’m familiar with the coaching staff,” Dedmon told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution last week. “I’m excited.”

What these moves have shown is that the Hawks’ front office is that they want to put themselves in a much better position to get back to the playoffs and hopefully a championship in the future led by Young, Collins, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, and DeAndre Hunter.

They will a great opportunity to build momentum for next season with 15 of their final 26 games of the 2019-20 season at State Farm Arena, including six of their final seven games where a number of Draft Lottery combinations could be up for grabs as in those final six games will have the Hawks going up against the Hornets twice, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers.

“We’re all trying to figure out a way to help this team, this organization get better,” Young said to the “NBA: The Jump” crew of Rachel Nichols, Scottie Pippen, and Tracy McGrady on Feb. 13 at NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, IL. “So, I trust our front office in making the moves and they made some moves already.”  

“Obviously it’s been a tough season, I mean, last year and this year so far-we’ve haven’t been able to really find that edge to help us win and a lot of people are going to look at the fact that, I mean, we’re super young,” Young said to Nichols, Pippen, and McGrady. “But I mean, I’m just trying to help our team win. Trying to figure out a way and it will come.”
Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/16/2020 www.nba.com story “2019-20 Midseason Report Cards: Eastern Conference,” by Sekou Smith; https://www.nba.com/games/20190209/NYKATL#/preview/recap; 2/13/2020 3 p.m. edition of “NBA: The Jump” on ESPN with Rachel Nichols, Michael Wilbon, Scottie Pippen, Paul Pierce, and Tracy McGrady; 2/16/2020 6 p.m. NBA on TNT “NBA: Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; https://www.espn.com/nba/standings; https://www.nba.com/2019-20-trade-tracker;  2/19/2020 www.nba.com story, “Schedule Analysis: Breaking Down The Final 2 Months for Every Team,” by John Schuhmann; 2/20/2020 7:30 p.m. “Miami Heat versus Atlanta Hawks,” on FOX Sports Southeast with Bob Rathbun, Dominique Wilkins, and Andre Aldridge; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2580913/dewayne-dedmon; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4066372/kevin-huerter; https://www.espn.com/nba/players/gamelog/_/id/3908845/john-collins; and https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4277905/trae-young.

J-Speaks: Honoring Two NBA Legends Gone Too Soon at 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend in "Chi-Town"

At the start of this calendar year, the National Basketball Association (NBA) lost too soon two of the most important men in the sport. We said goodbye to who many consider the greatest commissioner in professional sports history and then even more tragically to one of the greatest to ever grace the NBA hardwood, who had a major impact on today generation of not just players but coaches, fans and even members of the media. Those two men were celebrated an honored at the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago, IL.

The celebrations of the life of NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern, who headed the league from 1984-2014 and passed away on Jan. 1 from a brain hemorrhage suffered on Dec. 12, 2019 and 18-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, who along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, pilot Ara Zobayan, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton; John Altobelli and his wife Keri, and daughter Alyssa, and Christina Mauser, who all tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA on Jan. 26 began on Friday at the 2020 All-Star Celebrity Game on ESPN at the Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky with a 24.2 second countdown, as the 24 represented the number Bryant wore in the last 10 seasons of his NBA career and the 2 represented his second daughter’s jersey number.

Before that began, ESPN television personalities and head coaches for the celebrity game in Stephen A. Smith, host of ESPN’s weekday morning show “First Take” and Chicago native, and Northwestern University graduate Michael Wilbon each gave their thoughts on the losses of Commissioner Stern and Bryant before tip-off.

“The NBA lost two legends recently. One who made his mark on the league and the world off the court. The other whose name synonymous with basketball greatness,” Mr. Smith said about Commissioner Stern and Bryant.

Mr. Wilbon then followed by saying that Bryant and Commissioner Stern were “two men who changed the NBA and the great game of basketball globally in ways only legends could. They will forever be missed, but certainly never forgotten. Thank you, David, [Stern], and Kobe [Bryant].”  

The speeches by Mr. Wilbon and Mr. Smith were followed by the crowd inside the arena and the participants in the celebrity game on the court chanting, “Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!”

That is the kind of respect deserving for a great player who earned 18 consecutive All-Star selections (most all-time) in his 20-year career all with the Lakers, second only to the 19 another Lakers great in Hall of Famer and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer at 38,387 points in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bryant was tied with four-time Kia MVP and now 16-time All-Star LeBron James for most All-Star games started with 15 until James passed him when the All-Star starters were announced on Jan. 23 on TNT. Bryant is tied with Hall of Famer Bob Pettit for most All-Star Game MVPs with four (2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011). His 292 points in the unofficial mid-season classic with 292 points scored. His 38 total steals in the All-Star Game and 10 offensive rebounds in a game are the most all-time.

That appreciation and respect was also shown about two hours later before the NBA Rising Stars Challenge at the United Center when Bryant’s former teammate that he won back-to-back titles with and former Chicago Bull Pau Gasol and perennial WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion of the Seattle Storm Sue Bird shared their feelings about Bryant and Mr. Stern.

“David and Kobe’s contributions to the NBA, the WNBA, to the game of basketball-it’s impossible to measure,” Bird said to the audience. “We literally would not be standing here right now without David whose brainchild was the NBA All-Star Game. And Kobe, 18 All-Star appearances, four MVPs and an epic Dunk Contest win. Like their impact on the court and on the game, they’ll never be forgotten.”

Gasol added that the game of basketball is a global game and that is mainly thanks to Mr. Stern and Bryant saying that he was “proud” to have worked alongside of both them, and even more proud to call them friends. 

Before both Team USA and Team World took the court for the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, the head coach of the team in Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy wrote “Mamba Mentality” on the whiteboard on the locker room.

“You know were going to have some fun with it. But I really want everybody to just carry this tonight man,” Handy said when he wrote “Mamba Mentality” on the board in reference to Bryant. “Everybody. Whether you had a chance to know that man or not, spend some time with him, anytime he stepped on the floor he played.”  

To put into context those 18 appearance in the All-Star Game by Bryant, the first one was on Feb. 8, 1998 at Madison Square Garden in New York City at age 19, the youngest to ever do it. The year before that, he won the 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, which was on the heels of scoring 31 points with eight rebounds in what was called then the Rookies versus Sophomores Game in Cleveland, OH.

“It means the world to me. This is my first All-Star Game. Playing here in New York City with all these great basketball players. It’s an incredible feeling,” Bryant said then to NBC’s Jim Gray.

He shared the floor on that night with the great Michael Jordan, the man he is most compared to. His teammate for eight years that he won three straight titles with (2000-02) in Hall of Famer and current NBA on TNT studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal and former Lakers Nick Van Exel, and Eddie Jones. Fellow Hall of Famer of the Indiana Pacers and current NBA on TNT color analyst Reggie Miller. Former San Antonio Spur Tim Duncan and former Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett, and NBATV studio analyst and Hall of Famer as well Grant Hill.

“When I was a kid watching the All-Star Games I always wondered, what went on behind the scenes,” Bryant said. “What did the players do? How its like back in the locker room.”

“And to now be a part of it, I know the ins and outs and, you know how things, you know, what goes on and man, it’s fun. I’m still like a kid in a candy store when I sit back and watch so many great players.”  

As great as the moments were seeing Bryant shine on the with his play at the All-Star Game, it was those small moments interacting with the likes lacing up his sneakers getting ready for the game. Sharing the team photo with his All-Star teammates or interacting with them on the bench, whether that is laughing and smiling with them, to his interactions with the legends of the game in Jordan and fellow Hall of Famers Dominque Wilkins and Bill Russell.

One time at an All-Star Game, the 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics told Bryant one amazing compliment about his play on the hardwood saying, “Couldn’t be more prouder of you if you were my own son.”

Perhaps the proudest memory of Bryant during his All-Star career was his final one in 2016 in Toronto, Ontario where we saw him right before the introduction of the teams and he was with his late daughter Gianna, who was age 6 at the time giving her a hug and kiss.

What also took place at that All-Star Game in 2016 about Bryant, which Mark Jones said during intermission of the All-Star celebrity game is that watched Bryant very “eloquently and fluently” talk answer questions from the press first in Italian for 15 minutes, then in Spanish for 20 minutes, and then in English for half an hour.

That moment Jones said brought into clear focus that Bryant’s influence and impact was not just here in the United States but the whole world.  

“I just want to thank you guys for all of your support for all these years. I’ve just been extremely fortunate to be able to play the game that I love. And be in the NBA for over half my life,” Bryant said to the then Air Canada Centre, now Scotiabank Arena audience that night of Feb. 14, 2016. “It’s a thrill for me to be here in this All-Star Game. To get a chance to be around these young players here. Be able to speak to them about the game. Share some of that knowledge that I’ve learned throughout my career. And so, they can carry on the tradition of the NBA. Want to thank you guys.”

TNT studio host for “Inside the NBA” mentioned something pretty remarkable on Thursday night during the pregame show that all four three players to ever win All-Star Game MVP are no longer with us. Hall of Famers, George Mikan, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlin and now Kobe Bryant.

Ed Macauley, Paul Arizin, Bob Cousy, aforementioned Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, Adrian Smith, Rick Barry, Hal Greer, Willis Reed, Jerry West, Dave Cowens, Bob Lanier, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Dave Bing, Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, Randy Smith, David Thompson, George Gervin, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Ralph Sampson, Tom Chambers, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Mitch Richmond, Glen Rice, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chris Paul, Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving, Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook, and Lakers’ Anthony Davis have all won All-Star Game MVP.

“That’s what All-Star Weekend is like for me. It’s watching your favorite trading cards just walk around right next to each other,” Smith said on Thursday night. “It realizes how early he was taken.”

In the lead up to the 69^th Annual NBA All-Star Game, the NBA announced that the All-Star trophy would be named in Kobe Bryant’s honor.

Before tip-off of the 69 unofficial mid-season classic, five-time NBA champion with the Lakers and perennial All-Star Earvin “Magic” Johnson alongside the 2020 All-Star Game participants addressed the audience about the passing of Mr. Stern and Bryant, who had a major impact on the league, the fanbase and to all communities across the US.

Mr. Johnson called David Stern one of the “greatest commissioners” that any league has ever seen.

He talked about how when Mr. Stern allowed him to play in the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando, FL after Johnson announced he had announced he was HIV positive. Not only did that moment Johnson said “saved” his life but saved the lives of millions of others that were living with HIV across the globe.

“He allowed players like myself and all these players to be households all over the world,” Johnson said to the United Center audience. “Thank God we have his vision was to have the NBA be a global game, and now look how many international players we have playing in the NBA today. It’s made the game better because of that.”

In his reflections on Bryant, who has both his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys hanging in the rafters of the Lakers home arena in Los Angeles, CA the Staples Center, Johnson said that we will never see another basketball player quite like him who scored 81 points in a game back in 2006, the 2^nd most ever in an NBA game. Scoring 60 points in the last game of his NBA career in 2016 and led the Lakers to five NBA titles.

As great as Bryant was on the hardwood, Johnson said what he was most proud of Bryant was his dedication he had off the court in how fought every day to get millions of homeless people in L.A. a place to live, which he did with a passion. 

“He was also passionate about being a great father, husband, filmmaker. The young man won an Oscar,” Johnson said.

Johnson then asked the audience and the players that were behind him to hold hands and be silent for eight seconds, in remembrance for the first jersey Bryant wore.

That was followed by a moving video tribute and musical performance by Academy Award-winning, Grammy Award-winning, and Golden Globe Award-winning artist and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson that brought the crowd to tears.  

The 24 participants in Sunday’s All-Star Game all wore jerseys that dawned on the upper left corner a patch with nine stars that represented each victim of that helicopter crash that took the life of Bryant and his daughter and the aforementioned seven others. The team led captained by 16-time All-Star LeBron James had the players wore jerseys with the No. 2 in honor of Gianna, and the squad captained by four-time All-Star of the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo wore jerseys with the No. 24 in honor of Bryant.

At the game’s conclusion, the newly named Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP, which was announced earlier in the week went to four-time All-Star of the Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard, who had 30 points and seven rebounds, going 11/18 from field, including 8 for1 4 from three-point range in helping Team LeBron reach the target score first of 157 points beating Team Giannis by that total of 157-155.

“It means a lot to me. You know, words can’t even explain just making this the first Kobe Bryant MVP trophy” Leonard said to NBA on TNT’s Ernie Johnson during the trophy ceremony. “You know, I want to thank Kobe for everything he’s done for me. All the long talks and workouts, you know? Thank you. This one’s for him.”

There were a fan in the audience that NBA on TNT showed at the conclusion of the game that had jacket in tribute to Bryant with the numbers No. 8 and 24 on the left sleeve, and the back that said, “Legends Never Die.” 

The anchors and television personalities for NBATV and the NBA on TNT the microphones they used during All-Star weekend, had the numbers No. 8 or No. 24 in honor of Bryant or the No. 24 and No. 2 in honor of Bryant and his daughter Gianna. 

Sideline reporter for the TNT during the All-Star Game Allie LaForce sleeves on her suit had the nine stars to pay tribute to the nine people that passed away tragically, including Bryant and his second oldest daughter in the aforementioned helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles three weeks ago Sunday. 

"9 stars for #kobe4ever, Gigi, and the 7 over beautiful humans we tragically lost," LaForce said on her Twitter page @ALaForce. "That, and a game featuring hundreds of thousands of dollars going to worthy Chicago charities. Plus, REALLY good basketball players [crying and OK emoji]. Here we go CHICAGO!" 

At the start of this calendar year, the NBA family lost longtime Commissioner David Stern and then 25 days later tragically lost Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and his second oldest daughter Gianna along with seven others as mentioned earlier in a tragic helicopter crash.

These two proud pillars of the National Basketball Association got well deserved honors and appreciations throughout the 2020 All-Star Weekend from start to finish and while it is sad that their lives ended far too soon, their memory and the work they did in the case of David Stern off the floor and in the case of Kobe Bryant on the NBA hardwood that made the league, and the players better across the board, and given fans memories that will last forever. 


Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 2/13/2020 7 p.m. TNT “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader from the House of Blues in Chicago, IL with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal; 2/14/2020 9 p.m. “NBA Rising Stars Challenge,” on TNT, presented by State Farm with Brian Anderson, Utah Jazz first-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, Indiana Pacers’ starting center Myles Turner and Jared Greenberg; 2/16/2020 8 p.m. “69^th Annual NBA All-Star Game,” on TNT, presented by State Farm with Marv Albert, Grant Hill, Reggie Miller, and Allie LaForce; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_NBA_All_Star_Game;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_NBA_All-Star_Game; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuable_Player_Award; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Jennifer-Hudson.   

J-Speaks: "Chi-Town" Welcomes 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

All eyes of the basketball world will be on Chicago, IL this Weekend as the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) unofficial mid-season celebration descends on the “Windy City” for the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend were festivities from celebrities taking the hardwood showing their hoop skills to start things off; to the NBA rookies and second-year stars squaring off to see who is the best; to the players displaying their all-around skills from dunking, shooting, passing and more on Saturday night. All culminating in the 24 best players taking the court on Sunday night in an All-Star Game that will pay tribute to one of the greats that made his mark in “The Association” for two decades in the “City of Angels,” being selected to be a part of this weekend in the ultimate game of pick up 18 times. Here is your J-Speaks guide to NBA All-Star Weekend 2020.

2020 All-Star Celebrity Game, Presented by Ruffles

The 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off with the 2020 Celebrity Game, presented by Ruffles on Valentine’s night at 7 p.m. on ESPN from the Wintrust Arena, home of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, with commentary coming from NBA play-by-play man Mark Jones, being joined by WNBA star of the Los Angeles Sparks and ESPN NBA studio analyst Chiney Ogwumike and fellow commentator Peter Rosenburg. Rounding out the telecast will be sideline report and Chicago native Cassidy Hubbarth.

The game will feature the best in entertainment from acting, music, with a mix of NBA legends and current and former WNBA players who have ties to Chicago, being coached by two of the best television analysts on “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.”

Coaching the Home Team will be ESPN basketball analyst, co-host of “Pardon the Interruption,” weekdays at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN, Northwestern grad, and Chicago native Michael Wilbon, being assisted by WNBA All-Star from the Chicago Sky Diamond DeShields.  

Three-time Grammy-Award winning rapper, Golden Globe and Academy-Award winning actor, and fellow Chicago native Common, playing alongside singer and Latin Grammy-Award winning recording artist Bad Bunny; actor and comedian Hannibal Buress, co-star of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim "The Eric Andre Show;" four-time American Music Award winning whose songs have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country music charts Kane Brown; musician, and bandleader/Music Director of the house “Stay Human” on CBS’s “The Late Show with Steven Colbert” Jan Batiste; actor and comedian/cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and Chicago native Alex Moffat; Celebrity Chef, Best-Selling author, television personality, and humanitarian Jose Andres; comedian, social-media influencer who creates hilarious basketball videos Famous Los; Grammy-nominated recording artist born in Wisconsin and raised in Nigeria Jidenna; WNBA champion and three-time WNBA All-Star with the Los Angeles Sparks Chelsey Gray; former U.S. Secretary of Education who played pro basketball in Australia; and fellow Chicago native who played 13 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic, winning the 2005 NBA 3-Point Contest Quentin Richardson. 

Coaching the Away team will be co-host of ESPN’s daily show “First Take” Stephen A. Smith, assisted by famed Restauranter Emmy-Award winning host on "Food Network" and the self-proclaimed Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri, with Chicago native, and three-time Grammy-Award winning recording artist Chance The Rapper serving as captain. Playing alongside former Celebrity Game MVP, fellow rapper and recording artist and member of Hip-Hop group "Migos" Quavo; rapper, recording artist and brother of Chance the Rapper Taylor Bennett; actor on NBC’s “Chicago PD” as the character Officer Kevin Atwater LaRoyce Hawkins; former NFL defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, actor, comedian, who co-host ABC's "The Great American Baking Show" Anthony “Spice” Adams, AKA Cream E. Biggums; owner of the Eastern Conference leading Milwaukee Bucks and co-founder of Avenue Capital Group Marc Lasry; digital marketing director for 2K Sports Ronnie 2K; 8-time All-American gymnast four-time member of U.S.A. Gymnastics Junior National team Katelyn Ohashi; Chicago native, actor, comedian who stars in the horror film "Get Out"  Lil Rel Howery; 2018 WNBA Rookie of the Year and two-time WNBA All-Star A’ja Wilson of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces; and former No. 3 overall pick who played seven seasons in the NBA for the Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Memphis Grizzlies.

2020 NBA Rising Stars

Two first-time All-Stars headline a list of 20 players chosen by the league’s assistant coaches to play in the 26^th annual 2020 NBA Rising Stars on Valentine’s night from the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls at 9 p.m. on TNT.

One team will feature 10 rookies and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 rookies and second-year NBA players from around the world in the league’s annual showcase of young and talented stars.

Leading Team U.S.A. will be second-year sensation from the Atlanta Hawks in guard from Lubbock, TX Trae Young, who will also play in his first All-Star Game on Sunday night playing alongside forward Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets), from Flint, MI; forward/center from Atlanta, GA Wendell Carter, Jr. (Bulls, but will not play due to a sprained ankle); guard from Raleigh, NC Devonte Graham (Hornets); guard Tyler Herro (Miami Heat, will not play due to an ankle injury), from Milwaukee, WI-being replaced by guard Collin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers) from Marietta, GA; forward from Plainfield, NJ Jaren Jackson, Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies); leading candidate for 2020 Kia Rookie of the Year in guard from Dalzell, SC Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies); guard Kendrick Nunn (Miami Heat), and graduate of Simeon High School in Chicago, IL; forward from Sleepy Hollow, NY Eric Paschall (Golden State Warriors); forward PJ Washington (Charlotte Hornets) from Louisville, KY; and forward from Salisbury, NC Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans).

Leading Team World will be reigning 2019 Kia Rookie of the Year, who will also be playing in his first All-Star Game on Sunday night from Slovenia Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic will be joined from Canada guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker (New Orleans Pelicans), RJ Barrett (New York Knicks) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and forward Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies). From the Nassau, Bahamas center Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns-will not play because of an injured ankle)-replaced by forward Nicolo Melli (New Orleans Pelicans) from Reggio Emilia, Italy.  From Toyama, Japan forward Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards). From Cherkasy, Ukraine forward Svi Mykhailiuk (Detroit Pistons). From Lagos, Nigeria forward Josh Okogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), and forward/center Moritz Wagner (Washington Wizards) from Berlin, Germany.  

2020 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night


The skills of shooting, dunking, passing, and dribbling will be on full display for all to see at the United Center in Chicago, IL on Saturday night Feb. 15 with All-Star Saturday Night at 8 p.m. on TNT. 

2020 Taco Bell Skills Challenge 

It all gets underway with the 17^th annual Taco Bell Skills Challenge as first-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics tries to defend his title against seven challengers that consists 2018 champion guard Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets and 2015 champion and Chicago native Patrick Beverly of the Los Angeles Clippers. The eight-player field also consists of first-time All-Stars in forward Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), forward Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers), and forward Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors), and two-time All-Star forward/guard Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks). Three-time All-Star and 2011 Kia MVP Derrick Rose of the Detroit Pistons was supposed to be in this event but will not play because of an adductor strain and will be replaced by second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder). 

"I won last year and I wanted to do it again if I was named an All-Star," Tatum told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth at the All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night. "So, I'm going to win tomorrow and then I going to retire. After I win tomorrow, I'm not doing it anymore."  

2020 MTN Dew 3-Point Contest

Some of the best sharp shooters in the business will be lighting up the United Center in the 34^th annual MTN Dew Three-Point contest.

Defending champion Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets looks to repeat against a field that features first-time Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks). Five-time All-Star Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers was supposed to participate in the Three-Point Contest, but will not because of a right groin strain he sustained in the 111-104 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies, and will be replaced by first-time All-Star and 2018 Three-Point champ Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.

Rounding out the participants in this competition will be Davis Bertans (Washington Wizards); Devonte Graham (Charlotte Hornets), Buddy Hield (Sacramento Kings); Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls), and Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat).

The eight-player field will feature a two-round, timed shooting contest will have a new look to it, with the addition of two shots in the “MTN DEW Zone,” which is a two locations that will be equidistant between the traditional racks at the top of the three-point arc and the adjacent “wing” rack. The two pedestals in the MTN DEW Zone will be located six feet behind the three-point line and will hold one special green ball called the “3-Ball.” Shots made by a participant with the green ball are worth three points.

Along with the two new shots, the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest will still have the five main locations-four racks that contain four official NBA game balls, with each being worth one point and the one multicolor ball in each rack known as the “money” ball, that is worth two points, and one rack with all “money balls,” worth two points each. Each ball on the money ball rack that each participant can place at any of the five traditional shooting locations. 

The addition of the MTN DEW Zone has will increase the number of balls in each round from 25 to 27, while also increasing amount of time in a round from 60 seconds (1:00) to 70 seconds (1:10), with the possible max score in a round increasing from 34 points in a round to 40 points.

Competitors with the three highest scores in the opening-round will advance to the title round with the player having the highest score in the championship round will be declared the winner.

2020 AT&T Slam Dunk

A former Slam Dunk champion, two previous second-place finishers and a first-time participant comprise the competitors in the 35^th annual AT&T Slam Dunk contest.

Eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers returns to the competition that he won at the 2008 All-Star Game, while a member of the Orlando Magic.

Joining Howard will be two former runners-up in Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon and Derrick Jones, Jr. of the Miami Heat, and first-time participant in Milwaukee Bucks’ guard Pat Connaughton.

Howard will be competing in this event for the first time in 11 years, where he made the final of his three straight appearances.

Four years ago, Gordon put on a show in the Slam Dunk contest that saw him put up three perfect scores of 50. Jones, Jr., whose 23^rd Birthday will be on the same day of the Slam Dunk contest, finished second in the 2017. Connaughton will try to become the first Bucks player to win the Slam Dunk contest.

The 2020 AT&T Slam Dunk contest takes place in Chicago for the first time since the memorable 1988 contest between eventual Hall of Famers where six-time NBA champion in Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls outdueled the then Atlanta Hawks Dominique Wilkins to win back-to-back Slam Dunk titles.

Reigning Slam Dunk champion Hamidou Diallo of the Thunder is not participating in the contest this season.

69^th Annual NBA All-Star Game

The 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend concludes with the main event of the 69^th Annual NBA All-Star Game where 24 of the best players in the league were selected by the fans, current NBA players and a media panel to start and play in the ultimate pick-up game that will have a brand new feature, while paying tribute to the recent loss of one of the greats in the game.

Headlining the two squads are team captains in 16-time All-Star LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and four-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), the two leading vote getters.

Both James and Antetokounmpo made their choices of who would start and come off the bench when they drafted their squads during the “2020 NBA All-Star Draft” on Feb. 6 on TNT.

Starting alongside James will be his Lakers teammate in seven-time All-Star Anthony Davis; first-time All-Star Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks); eight-time All-Star James Harden (Houston Rockets); and four-time All-Star and reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers). 

Coming off the bench for Team LeBron, that will be coached by Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel and his staff will be first-time All-Star Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)-who replaces five-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), who is out at least 1-2 weeks with a right groin injury; two-time All-Star guard Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers); two-time All-Star center Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets); first-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics); 10-time All-Star guard Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder); nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets); and first-time All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers).

Starting alongside Antetokounmpo will be three-time All-Star center Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers); first-time All-Star Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors); four-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics); and first-time All-Star guard Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks).

Coming off the bench for Team Giannis, that will be coached by head coach of the defending NBA champion Raptors Nick Nurse will be his Bucks teammate in two-time All-Star Khris Middleton; first-time All-Star forward Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat); first-time All-Star center Rudy Gobert; six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors); first-time All-Star forward Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans); and first-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz).

It's one thing to be selected as one of the 24 players to play in the unofficial mid-season classic and the finale of All-Star Weekend. It is even special when it is your first time and that it occurs in your second NBA season. That was the case for Doncic and Young, who were traded for each other on draft night in June 2019. 

To put into context how big of a moment this is for the Mavericks, Doncic became just the 10th player in franchise history to be selected to play in the All-Star Game, joining future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, who was selected 14 times; Ronaldo Blackman, who was chosen four times; Mark Aguirre three times; Michael Finley, future Hall of Famer Steve Nash and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd twice each; and James Donaldson, Chris Gatling, and Josh Howard once. 

"It was amazing," Doncic said of being selected as an All-Star starter over the phone to the  NBA on TNT crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal on Jan. 23. "I remember all those years I used to wake up back in Europe like three, four a.m. to watch the game and you know, now I can be on it, you know? And it's just a pleasure."

For Young when he takes the floor on Sunday night, he will be the first Hawks player voted as an All-Star starter since Dikembe Mutombo in the 1998 game at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, home of the Knicks. Young was not even born yet. 

"It means a lot. It means a lot to me," Young said to Johnson, Smith, Barkley, and O'Neal as he was warming up before the game. "I know I'm not here just representing myself. I'm representing  a lot more people than just me. So, just want to come out here and put on the best sensation I can for them." 

Tatum of the Celtics told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth at the All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night he simply "excited about being in his first All-Star Game saying, "I think it's going to be a lot of fun being around all the other guys. Just enjoy it and soak it all in."  

As great as it is to be an All-Star for the first time, it is an even better feeling when you are a part of it with one of your teammates, which is the case for the Raptors with Lowry and Siakam; Butler and Adebayo of the Heat; and aforementioned first time selections for both Mitchell and Gobert for the Jazz. 

"Ah man, it'll be awesome," Siakam said to Hubbarth about being in his first All-Star Game with Lowry. "I know he's excited for me. I'm excited for him and I remember my rookie year when I came in, he was one of the guys who took me under his wing. So, it'll be so fun to be around him the whole coaching staff. It'll be definitely an exciting time and I can't wait for that." 

There is a quote in an Feb. 13 ESPN.com article done by senior writer Zach Lowe where Heat President Pat Riley that describe the rise of Adebayo from role player to first-time All-Star this year where he said in referring to three of the most important players in franchise history, one Hall of Famer, one future Hall of Famer and one who is synonymous with the franchise "He's the Zo [Alonzo Mourning]. He's the UD [Udonis Haslem]. He's the Dwyane [Wade]. They were standard-bearers. Bam is that person. He is the real deal." 

Adebayo in response to that he said to Hubbarth at the All-Star Celebrity Game, "It definitely shows he realized my hard work and my work ethic, and he believes in me. Just like I believe in his organization when they drafted me. So, just keep believing. Just keep trying to be myself and just win this team a championship." 

Last season, Gobert thought he should have made the All-Star and there was a moment where in front of the media he displayed his disappointment by crying. Those tears of pain led to him putting a great deal of work this summer, especially for France in the FIBA World Cup, and he came back better than ever and he, and Mitchell were rewarded for their hard work by being selected to play in this year's All-Star Game. 

"I think the biggest thing I respect is, you know, with the way Rudy handled last year. After last year, you know, you can kind of go one of two ways when something like that happens, and I watched him put a lot of work in this summer," Mitchell said. "For him he motivates me. We're going out there obviously our first one together. But he motivates me, and to be able to do this for the state of Utah is truly a blessing."  

As difficult as it is to make it to the unofficial mid-season classic just once in one's NBA career, it is even harder to make it multiple times. Just ask Paul, who will be playing in his 10th career All-Star Game, but his first since 2016. 

"Man, it's cool, it's special, it's something that you don't take for granted," Paul, the 2013 All-Star Game MVP said to the NBA on TNT studio crew about being back in the All-Star Game. "I know you'll there's been All-Stars sometimes you get to the weekend you're like, 'Man, I'm tired of all these pictures and all that, but you don't realize until you're not here and then you get the opportunity to come back how much of a blessing, and an opportunity it is to even get this opportunity." 

Paul also said in that interview that the one thing he did miss about being at All-Star weekend in the three years he was not playing in the game is seeing his son and daughter, and how they take in the experience of All-Star Weekend. 

Both Team LeBron and Team Giannis will be playing for a Chicago-based charity that were selected by the James and Antetokounmpo. Team LeBron will be playing for the Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit leadership development program that empowers kids from under-resourced communities in the Chicago area to attend and graduate from college and position themselves to be this nation’s next leaders. Team Giannis will be playing for After School Matters, a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing after school activities and summer programs to nearly 19,000 “Windy City” teens. 

"Education is so important me and what I do in my everyday life. So, it's great to be able to showcase the Chicago Scholars in this year's All-Star Game," James said to the Johnson, Smith and Barkley during the NBA All-Star Draft on Feb. 6. 

Antetokounmpo said to the NBA on TNT studio crew that playing for the charity After School Matters was special because this program is similar to the one he and his brothers were a part of in Athens, Greece growing up while the parents worked a lot of hours doing a number of jobs to make ends meat. 

"We were able to have fun, you know?" Antetokounmpo said. "Socialize with other kids, you know? Get that dose of education and just participate in other activities with other kids. So, it's something I wanted to go with." 

The new format of the 2020 All-Star Game will have the two teams compete in the first three quarters, timed for 12 minutes and each score starting at 0-0 to win $100,000 that will be donated to that team’s respective charities for those three quarters, with the winner of each of the first three quarters will be the squad with the highest score at the end of 12 minutes. 

"I love it," NBA legend Rod Strickland said to NBA on TNT's Baron Davis about the format in the first three quarters. "I think it creates that competition...Something in a small period of time and there's a winner. And then you tie that in with a foundation, I think that's great. I think it, you know, gives the incentive for players to play."

New York Streetball legend Bobbito Garcia added, "I think fans deserve to see these guys playing within an intense competition." 

At the start of the fourth quarter, there will be no game clock and a Final Target Score will be set. That Final Target Score will be set by taking the leading team’s total points cumulated the first three quarters and adding 24 points-paying tribute to the late 18-time All-Star and recording tying four-time All-Star Game MVP and five-time NBA champion of the Lakers Kobe Bryant. The winner

If the cumulative score after three quarters is 99-96, the final target score will be 123. To win the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, the team with 100 points has needs 23 points in the final period before the team with 96 scores 27 and vice versa. With the quarter being untimed, the 2020 NBA All-Star Game will conclude either on a made basket or a free throw to win $200,000 that will go to either the Chicago Scholars or After School Matters. 

"I think out of everything that has been devised so far, that 's singularly having no clock, that's you in the park, and you have to end on a game-winner," Garcia said. 

Strickland added, "I love it. It's always something going. It's something intriguing. Something competitive, and that's what they game (All-Star) been lacking. So, I think the changes are great."  

If there is a tie at the end of the first and second quarter, the $100,000 charity award for that quarter will be added to the next period. If there is a tie at the conclusion of the third quarter, the $100,000 award for charity will be added to the award of the team that wins the NBA All-Star Game.

If either Team LeBron or Team Giannis wins each of the first three quarters and reaches the Final Target score first, $500,000 will be donated to that team’s winning charity and $100,000 will be donated to the losing squad’s charity.

The 2020 All-Star Weekend will provide the nation and world a chance to see the stars and the major entities of the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the past, present and future all in one place the “Windy City,” and it all takes place starting Friday night beginning with the All-Star Celebrity Game, presented by Ruffles on Valentine’s night at 7 p.m. on ESPN and then with the “NBA Rising Stars” at 9 p.m. on TNT. Then State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 15 on TNT. Then culminating in the finale with the 69^th annual “NBA All-Star Game,” at 8 p.m. on TNT.  

Information and quotations are courtesy of 1/25/2020 5 p.m. "Dallas Mavericks versus Utah Jazz" on FOX Sports Southwest with Mark Followill and Derek Harper; 2/6/2020 7 p.m. NBA on TNT "Tip-Off," presented by Autotrader: "NBA 2020 All-Star Draft," presented by Unite Jordan Brand with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal; 2/14/2020 7 p.m. "NBA All-Star Celebrity Game," presented by Ruffles with Mark Jones, Pete Rosenberg, Chiney Ogwumike, and Cassidy Hubbarth; 2/16/2020 6 p.m. NBA on TNT "Tip-Off," presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal; https://www.nba.com/allstar/2020/events/all-star-game/dunk-contest/three-point-contest/skills-challenge/rising-stars/celebrity-game; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Richardson; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_Miles; https://in.nba.com/news/nba-all-star-2020-ultimate-guide-game-saturday-night-night and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Rose.