2024 NBA All-Star Weekend: Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest, and More in Indianapolis
The city of Indianapolis is buzzing with excitement as the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend and All-Star Game return to the city for the first time since 1985. This decision is a tribute to the rich basketball history of the state and a nod to 89-year-old Pacers owner Herb Simon. Fans are eagerly anticipating the thrilling events that will take place tonight, including the NBA dunk contest, 3-point contest, skills challenge, and the highly anticipated Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu contest.
The NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, expressed his admiration for Curry and Ionescu’s idea to have a head-to-head shooting contest. He praised their initiative in wanting to bring more attention to the women’s game and create a fantastic showcase of shooting skills. Ionescu had the option to shoot from either the WNBA three-point line or the NBA three-point line but chose the NBA arc. Despite this, she will still use a WNBA ball.
In the NBA All-Star 3-point contest, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks emerged as the victor in a thrilling finish. Known for his clutch performances, Lillard needed to make the final shot of the event to edge out Atlanta’s Trae Young and secure his second consecutive 3-point contest win. Lillard’s impressive performance made him the first player to repeat since Toronto’s Jason Kapono in 2007 and 2008.
Lillard’s win was not an easy feat, as he faced tough competition from Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns in the first round. The three players had a four-way tie with 26 points, leading to a tiebreaker round. Lillard and Towns advanced to the final round with 16 points each, while Haliburton was eliminated with a score of 12. In the final round, Lillard made 16 of 27 3-point shots, including the final money-ball shot on each rack, securing his victory.
The NBA All-Star skills challenge saw Team Pacers, composed of Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner, emerge as the winners. The home team advantage seemed to play a role once again, as this marked the third consecutive time the home team won the skills challenge. The competition consisted of various skill-based challenges, including outlet passes, pylon dribbles, and shooting from different locations on the court. Team Pacers impressed the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium and took home the trophy.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the new rule requiring players to play in at least 65 games to be eligible for major regular-season awards such as MVP and All-NBA. While this rule has caused some players like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton to miss out on potential awards and financial incentives, Silver defended the decision. He stated that the rule was collectively bargained with the players and aimed to incentivize star players to participate in more games. Silver noted that the number of games players have participated in this season has increased, and injuries have actually decreased.
The NBA All-Star Weekend schedule includes various events and games that fans can look forward to. On Saturday, February 17, All-Star Saturday Night will feature the Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest, Steph vs. Sabrina 3-point Challenge, and Slam Dunk Contest. The G League Up Next Game will take place on Sunday, February 18, followed by the highly anticipated NBA All-Star Game. Coverage of the weekend’s events and news conferences will be provided by TNT, ESPN, ESPN 2, NBA TV, and the NBA itself.
During a press conference, NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed several important topics. He expressed his focus on improving player-referee relations and acknowledged the need for better communication between players and officials. Silver also mentioned the re-evaluation of the G League Ignite program in light of the changing college sports landscape due to NIL deals. He praised former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for his contributions to the league and his continued involvement as an investor in the team.
The rising star Victor Wembanyama, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, participated in the rising stars competition on Friday night. Although he did not make it to the final, Wembanyama showcased his skills with an impressive performance, scoring 11 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and blocking two shots.
One of the highlights of this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend is the debut of the LED court. Developed by the German company ASB GlassFloor, the court features design and color changes, location-based player tracking animations, and countdowns for extra point periods. This fully LED court is a first for an NBA event and adds a new level of excitement to the games.
The dunk contest will feature four