NBA All-Star 2023: Dunk contest, 3-point contest predictions and preview

The NBA All-Star break doesn’t actually characterize the midway level of the season. Most groups have performed round 60 video games to this point, which might equate to about 73 p.c of the 82-game common season. The symbolic “second half” is admittedly the stretch run earlier than the playoffs the place groups will struggle for seeding and gamers will put up their closing arguments for particular person awards.

Earlier than the playoff push actually begins, the NBA’s greatest and brightest shall be in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah for the 2023 NBA All-Star Recreation. Festivities get underway on Friday, Feb. 17 with the NBA Celeb Recreation and and Rising Stars Problem. The dunk contest, three-point contest, and abilities problem shall be held on Saturday, and the All-Star Recreation itself shall be held on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The All-Star draft shall be held one hour earlier than the sport with main vote-getters LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo serving as captains, and each shall be broadcast on TNT.

Whereas the All-Star Recreation is the crown jewel of the weekend on Sunday, oftentimes the dunk contest and three-point content material on Saturday will steal the present. This 12 months’s full discipline of contributors in All-Star Saturday have been introduced, and it must be a enjoyable night time for everybody concerned. Right here’s our full preview of All-Star Saturday, with predictions for who will win every occasion.

2023 NBA dunk contest predictions, preview, and time

All-Star Saturday kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. The dunk contest would be the third and remaining occasion of the night time. You may guess on the dunk contest at DraftKings Sportsbook. Right here’s a have a look at who’s competing:

Okay.J. Martin, F, Houston Rockets: KJ Martin is the son of Kenyon Martin, the previous No. 1 general choose within the 2000 NBA Draft. Kenyon Junior is a 22-year-old ahead for the Houston Rockets who’s beginning to carve out a task as a combo ahead in his third season. Whereas KJ is a pair inches shorter than his dad at 6’6, he’s one of the explosive leapers within the league and is likely to be the favourite to win this competitors. Martin put down the most effective dunks of the season earlier this month:

Mac McClung, G, Delaware Blue Coats/Philadelphia 76ers: McClung hasn’t performed in an NBA recreation this season, however the G League guard within the 76ers’ system was invited anyway so as to add some pleasure to the competition. McClung was a mixtape star as a highschool participant, and went on to have a strong faculty profession at each Texas Tech and Georgetown. He’s solely appeared in two NBA video games — with the Lakers and Bulls — since getting into the league, however he nonetheless has an enormous fanbase from his days as a prospect. McClung is a good leaper whose dunks will look even cooler as a result of he’s solely 6’2. That is McClung’s massive second within the highlight, and he guarantees to have one thing good able to go when the lights come on.

Trey Murphy III, F, New Orleans Pelicans: Murphy is in his second 12 months with the Pelicans. The 6’9 wing is usually recognized for his taking pictures potential, however he’s been dunking the hell out of the ball all season. Murphy already has 62 dunks this 12 months after dunking simply 17 occasions final season as a rookie. The Pelicans lobbied to get him on this contest, and the NBA went with it.

Jericho Sims, C, New York Knicks: Sims was a exercise warrior when he entered the draft out of Texas a pair years in the past. The 6’10 heart recorded a 44.5-inch max vertical, which is without doubt one of the greatest ever within the historical past of the draft mix. Large males often have a tough time wowing the judges in a dunk contest, however Sims’ leaping potential is so spectacular that he should not have any downside undertaking that. He’s well-known for getting his eyes above the rim on his dunks.

2023 NBA dunk contest predictions

I’m going to go together with Martin. Sims’ leaping is spectacular, however I’m unsure he has the flexibleness or creativity to shine on this occasion. Martin has quietly had a pleasant season for a horrible Rockets staff, and it appears like an enormous displaying on this contest might assist him turn into a family identify.

2023 NBA three-point contest predictions, preview, and time

The three-point contest would be the second occasion of All-Star Saturday after the Abilities Problem. Right here’s a have a look at the sphere:

• Tyrese Haliburton, G, Indiana Pacers: Haliburton likes to remind those that some draft analysts thought his shot was too sluggish and too funky to translate to the NBA when he entered the draft out of Iowa State. The primary-time All-Star has made the leap largely as a result of he’s an impressive shooter: he’s made 39.9 p.c of the 346 threes he’s tried this 12 months.
• Tyler Herro, G, Miami Warmth: Herro is extra of a pure scorer than a pure shooter, however his potential to hit pictures off the dribble or the catch is a key ingredient to his success. His taking extra threes than ever earlier than this 12 months with the Warmth (greater than eight makes an attempt per recreation), however his proportion has ticked down a bit to simply beneath 37 p.c.
• Buddy Hield, G, Indiana Pacers: It appears like simply yesterday that Hield was essentially the most electrical scorer in faculty basketball at Oklahoma, however one way or the other he’s already 30 years previous. Hield has gained this occasion earlier than in 2020 and stays on of essentially the most correct shooters within the league. He’ll be among the many favorites to win the competition.
• Kevin Huerter, G, Sacramento Kings: Huerter has had a breakout season in Sacramento following an offseason commerce from the Hawks. The 6’8 wing is without doubt one of the greatest motion shooters within the league, which might assist him as he runs across the arc to shoot off the racks. He brazenly campaigned for an invitation to this contest on the Lowe Submit podcast earlier this season. Let’s see him again it up.
• Damian Lillard, G, Portland Path Blazers: Lillard is one way or the other having maybe one of the best season of his Corridor of Fame profession at age-32 for the Path Blazers. He’d been placing up league-leading scoring numbers because the calendar turned to 2023, and continues to be one of the lethal pull-up shooters on the planet. He’s taking a profession excessive 11.2 makes an attempt per recreation from three this 12 months, and he’s hitting them at his profession common of 37 p.c.
• Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz: Markkanen may have the hometown followers behind him in Utah, however it’s honest to surprise if the stress will get to him. The 25-year-old ahead has had a outstanding breakout season for the Jazz, turning into a first-time All-Star and placing himself in place to win the league’s Most Improved Participant award. He’s lastly residing as much as his faculty billing as a shooter by hitting a career-best 41.2 p.c of his threes.
• Julius Randle, F, New York Knicks: Randle is the damage substitute for Anfernee Simons. He’s loved a pleasant bounce-back 12 months as a shooter after struggling final season, however he’s nonetheless solely hitting 33.8 p.c of his triples. He’s fairly clearly the worst shooter on this contest.
• Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics: Tatum has put his identify within the MVP dialog this season by being one of the best participant on one of the best staff within the NBA. He’s solely hitting 35.7 p.c of his threes, however he not often will get a simple catch-and-shoot try with opposing defenses at all times keyed in on taking away his scoring probabilities. Tatum and Lillard are the 2 largest names on this contest, and it is going to be fascinating to see if they’ll out-shoot everybody else.

What are NBA three-point contest guidelines?

Every competitor is allotted 70 seconds for the course. There’s a most of 27 balls accessible in 5 places across the courtroom. “Cash balls” shall be positioned on the finish of every rack and are value two factors. There can even be one rack full of cash balls. The three gamers with the very best rating from the opening spherical advances to the championship spherical. From the NBA: “Like final season’s three-point contest, there can even be two Mountain Dew Zone spots additional again on the wings with one ball value three factors.”

Learn extra on the three-point contest guidelines right here.

2023 NBA three-point contest predictions

We’ll choose Damian Lillard to win the three-point contest. He’s on hearth taking pictures the ball proper now, and he feels destined to win this competitors at the least as soon as.

2023 NBA Abilities Problem predictions, preview, and time

The talents problem would be the first occasion of All-Star Saturday. It contains a new format than the one we’ve seen the previous couple of years with three groups :

Staff Rookies

• Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith Jr. make up the rookie staff.

Staff Jazz

• Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton will characterize the Jazz in Utah.

Staff Antetokounmpo

• Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Kostas and Alex will compete because the third staff.

2023 NBA abilities contest guidelines

There shall be three rounds within the abilities problem adopted a championship spherical to find out the winner. Right here’s the way it works.

• Capturing spherical: There shall be 5 totally different spots on the ground between 10-feet and 30-feet. Gamers will shoot from every location with their teammates rounding. Shot have totally different values based mostly on location. Gamers can’t shoot the identical shot twice. The winner of the primary spherical will get 100 factors towards their staff rating.

Passing spherical: Gamers may have 30 seconds to go into three shifting targets. The passes may have totally different values based mostly on how tough they’re. “Every staff should make at the least one go try at every goal, and particular person gamers can not make consecutive passes on the identical goal.” The successful staff will earn 100 factors in direction of their rating.

Relay spherical: There shall be a relay course all gamers from the staff should full. The course shall be timed and quickest time wins. The course consists of outlet passing right into a shifting goal from the baseline, a dribbling problem by way of cones, a brief shot close to the basket, a three-pointer from the nook towards a defender, and a full courtroom dash to attain. The successful staff will earn 200 factors to the rating.

Last spherical — half-court shot: The 2 groups with the very best scores will advance to the championship spherical. Groups must make a halfcourt shot as rapidly as attainable. The primary staff will set the time and the second staff must beat it. The clock may have 90 seconds max.

Abilities contest prediction

We’ll take Staff Jazz to win.