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NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and Detroit will be represented by Svi Mykahiliuk who will be on Team World in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge. That’s just one of the many events taking place during All-Star Weekend.
Below is a breakdown of when and on what channel everything is happening.
Friday
What: NBA Rising Stars Challenge
When: 9 p.m.
Watch: TNT
Svi Mykhailiuk joins with Luka Doncic, the best player on either team, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Brandon Clarke and University of Michigan alum Mortiz Wagner on Team World. It will be tough to surpass the firepower offered by Team USA, however, which has Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and Trae Young along with a pair of Michigan State University alums in Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr.
What: NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
When: 7 p.m.
Watch: ESPN
This game is always pretty unwatchable but at least Kevin Hart is not involved this year. Instead you have a big upgrade in Hannibal Buress, but I’m not sure how he’ll do on the court. He’s joined by Chef Jose Andres, who has done some amazing work delivering food to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico in the past year. Their team’s ringers are Chelsea Gray and Quentin Richardson. he opposing team has Quavo and Lil Rey Howery and its ringers are A’ja Wilson and Darius Miles. I’ll take any team with Wilson on it.
Saturday
What: Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest
When: 8 p.m. EST
Watch: TNT
Derrick Rose was forced to withdraw from the Skills competition so I’ll be rooting for former Piston Spencer Dinwiddie among the guards and Bam Adebayo among the big men.
The 3-point contest sees the late addition of Grand Rapids native Devin Booker and a truly funky collection of talent that should make for an interesting night. If you would have put money on Davis Bertans, Devonte’ Graham and Duncan Robinson being among the 3-point contest participants before the season, you would now be a millionaire. Also competing are Joe Harris, Trae Young, Zach LaVine (yuck) and Buddy Hield (double yuck). I’m rooting for Bertans.
The Slam Dunk field is pretty lackluster, and I predict that there will be rumblings about the “future of the Slam Dunk contest” at around 10:30 p.m. EST. Pat Connaughton is an interesting choice but Aaron Gordon and Dwight Howard are definitely in the shrug category. We’ve likely seen the best they have to offer already. Then there is Derrick Jones Jr. Go Jones because why not?
Sunday
What: 69th NBA All-Star Game
When: 8 p.m. EST
Watch: TNT
There are a bunch of new scoring rules designed to make this game less boring, but I imagine it’ll be as boring as ever. Team LeBron and Team Giannis are playing for charities, and money goes to the respective charity of the winner of each of the first three quarters. Then, the final score will ditch the traditional clock and it will be the first team to whichever squad has the highest score plus an additional 24 points (in honor of the late Kobe Bryant).
Sure, why not?