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 26th 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 17th 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 34th 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 35th 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 23rd 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.
69th Annual NBA All-Star Game
The 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend concludes with the main event of the 69th 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 69th 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.
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