Team Jalen celebrates after winning the championship game of the NBA All-Star Rising Stars event in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
MANILA, Philippines–The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend is underway at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The mid-season festivities got going with Indiana Pacers’ second-year swingman Bennedict Mathurin shining the brightest in the Rising Stars Challenge after leading Team Jalen to the title and claiming the MVP award.
The Celebrity Game was also held with Team Shannon outdueling Team Stephen A, 100-91. Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys linebacker in the NFL, took home the MVP honors.
All-Star events continue Sunday (Manila time) with the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge and the Slam Dunk.
Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks is the favorite to repeat in the long distance competition and while Mac McClung of the G League also tries to go back-to-back in the dunk contest.
The 73rd NBA All-Star Game, which returns to its traditional East vs. West format, caps the festivities on Monday. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is making his NBA record 20th All-Star appearance while Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers and Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors will be making their debuts.
SCHEDULE OF NBA ALL-STAR EVENTS
Sunday, February 18, 9:00 a.m. (PH TIME)
- Skills Challenge
- 3-Point Contest
- Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge
- Slam Dunk
Monday, February 19, 9:00 a.m. (PH TIME)
- 73rd NBA All-Star Game (East vs. West)
WHERE TO WATCH THE NBA All-STAR IN THE PHILIPPINES
NBA All-Star Saturday Night (Sunday, PH time)
9 a.m. on NBA TV Philippines, Pilipinas Live app
10 a.m. join-in progress on One Sports
73rd NBA All-Star Game (Monday, PH time)
9:00 a.m. on NBA TV Philippines, One Sports, Pilipinas Live app
CLASSIC FORMAT
The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday will feature a matchup between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference in a return to the format that was used from 1951-2017.
NBA All-Star Game rosters
NBA ALL-STAR GAME: CAPTAINS AND COACHES
FILE–LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates as Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the 2023 NBA All Star Game on February 19, 2023. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will serve as team captains for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game due to being the All-Star starters who led their respective conferences in fan votes in NBA All-Star Voting.
James will be the captain for the Western Conference and Antetokounmpo for the Eastern Conference.
As part of the NBA All-Star Game, the NBA will partner with two local Indiana-based charities to help provide funding and support to each organization. The Western Conference All-Stars will play for Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, which inspire and enable young people to realize their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
The Eastern Conference All-Stars will play for Special Olympics Indiana, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Each organization will start the NBA All-Star Game with a $100,000 contribution. An additional $240,000 will be awarded to the charity of the winning team. In addition, through the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker program, $1,900 will be donated for each on-court assist during the NBA All-Star Game. Those funds will be split evenly between both charities
NBA All-Star MVP
FILE–Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hoists The Kobe Bryant MVP Trophy after the 2023 NBA All Star Game on February 19, 2023. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
The NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy has been permanently named for the late Kobe Bryant, an 18-time All-Star who won a record-tying four All-Star Game MVP awards. The Kobe Bryant Trophy celebrates its namesake, with intricate details holding dual meanings, both for NBA All-Star and Bryant’s legendary career, which include the following:
Base Dimension: The eight-sided base represents the eight decades of NBA All-Star Games and is a nod to Bryant’s No. 8 jersey number. The 18 stars around the trophy represent his 18 All-Star selections. The base height of 2 inches is a nod to Bryant’s 2002 NBA All-Star MVP.
Level 1: The 24 stars represent each All-Star in the game and Bryant’s No. 24 jersey number. The 7-inch height is a nod to Bryant’s 2007 NBA All-Star MVP.
Level 2: The 10 stars represent the All-Star Game starters and Bryant’s USA Basketball No. 10 jersey. The 9-inch height is a nod to Bryant’s 2009 NBA All-Star MVP.
Level 3: The five stars represent the unity of an NBA team and Bryant’s five NBA championships. The 11-inch height is a nod to his 2011 NBA All-Star MVP.
Level 4: A single star represents the star of stars and Bryant winning the 2007-08 NBA MVP. The 2-inch height of the final star represents Bryant’s two Bill Russell Trophies as the NBA Finals MVP (2009-2010).
MORE MILESTONES
Los Angeles Lakers’s pro-basketball player LeBron James gestures during the NBA All-Star game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at the Vivint arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 19, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James has earned his record 20th NBA All-Star selection and is set to become the first player to play in 20 NBA All-Star Games.
BREAKTHROUGHS
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after making a 3-pointer during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Eastern Conference roster includes four first-time NBA All-Stars: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Scottie Barnes, Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers.)
SATURDAY STARS
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) goes up to score on a breakaway dunk against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Twelve 2024 NBA All-Stars will participate in events during All-Star Saturday Night (Sunday). That list includes the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, who will make his debut in Slam Dunk.
CHAMPS ARE HERE
Basketball player Mac McClung, of the Philadelphia 76ers, competes during the Slam Dunk Contest of the NBA All-Star week-end in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 18, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks and Mac McClung of the NBA G League’s Osceola Magic will defend their titles in the 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk, respectively.
STEPHEN VS. SABRINA
FILE–Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
During State Farm All-Star Saturday Night (Sunday), NBA career 3-point leader Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and WNBA single-season 3-point leader Sabrina lonescu of the New York Liberty will go head-to-head in the first NBA vs. WNBA 3-point challenge.
HOMETOWN FAVORITES
FILE–Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton will start the NBA All-Star Game, compete in the 3-Point Contest and join teammates Mathurin and Myles Turner on Team Pacers for the Skills Challenge.
LED COURT
Celebrities play during the second half of the NBA basketball All-Star Celebrity Game, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A state-of-the-art full video LED court will be used at Lucas Oil Stadium, which will host the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday (Saturday) and All-Star Saturday (Sunday).
ACTION-PACKED
On-court events at NBA All-Star 2024 will include the Basketball Without Borders Global camp (Saturday-Monday), the NBA HBCU Classic and the NBA G League Next Up Game (Monday).