by Milwaukee Giannis Antetokounmpo will team up with his brethren again on All-Star Saturday. Portland Damian Lillard is taking the third shot in the 3-point title, Indiana’s Hield’s best friend will aim to win that again and Philadelphia’s Mac McClung can now become slam-dunk champion in NBA and high school level.
The NBA has released the full roster of participants for Saturday’s All-Star events in Salt Lake City: the skill contest, the 3-point contest, and the diving competition. It’s going to be an especially busy weekend for the 11 players currently scheduled to take part in a variety of events over three days of action in Utah.
COMPETITIVE 3 POINTS
Hield, the 2020 winner, is back to try to be the eighth player with as many 3-point crowns. He will face his Indiana teammates Tyrese haliburtonLillard’s Portland duo and Anfernee Simonsmiami Tyler HerroSacramento’s Kevin Huerterof Utah Lauri Markkanen and Boston Jayson Tatum.
Huerter was one of four Kings selected for the weekend.
“It was exciting to be involved and help represent the Kings at the All-Star weekend,” said Huerter. “We’re off to a great start, we can’t wait to see how this weekend goes and then we can’t wait to get back to work.”
Herro said he’s excited to go to Salt Lake City.
“I’m excited. I’ll try to win it,” the Heat guard said. “I’ll be me and I’ll be fine. Shooters shoot.”
CHALLENGES OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
Antetokounmpo is the All-Star captain and will pick a team against the team that will be picked on Sunday night by the fellow captain LeBron James.
But first, he’ll team up with his brothers — thanasis and Alex — in a challenge of skill, like he did at last year’s event in Cleveland. They will face two other teams, one from the host Utah Jazz and the other includes the top three picks from last year’s draft.
Jazz will be represented by Jordan Clarkson, Kessler’s Pedestrian And Colin Sexton. And Team Rooks includes pick #1 Paolo Banchero of Orlando, pick number 3 Jabari Smith Jr. of Houston and pick number 5 Jaden Ivey of Detroit.
It was a four-round competition, the first three involving shooting, passing, and relay runs. The top two teams after those events will take midfield shots to determine the winner.
DUNK COMPETITION
McClung won the all-American high school pitching competition in 2018 and will be entered the NBA pitching field by Houston’s Kenyon Martin Jr.., New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III and New York Jericho Sims.
Busy WEEKEND
Giannis Antetokounmpo will be participating in two events over the All-Star weekend, with a skill event, followed by an All-Star Game the following night.
Also in All-Star Saturday and All-Star Game: Tatum, Haliburton, Lillard and Markkanen.
This will be a two-person weekend against six other players scheduled to participate in both Friday’s Rising Stars games and Saturday’s All-Star events: Ivey, Smith, Murphy, McClung, Banchero and Kessler.
REFEREE
John Goble, Mark Lindsay and Michael Smith were announced on Tuesday as referees for Sunday’s All-Star Game.
The running duties of the Rising Star games and Saturday All-Star events will be handled by Brandon Adair, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, and CJ Washington.
SURE
Brooklyn, Charlotte and Washington were not represented at the All-Star weekend. For the Nets, it’s technical; Kyrie Irving And Kevin Durant both were selected as All-Stars this season when they played for the Nets and both were subsequently traded.
