American sports, Basketball

NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 Preview

Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

It will be Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis in the 69th NBA All-Star Game. This will certainly be a special weekend for NBA fans all over the world. Let’s take a look at a preview of the game.  

Before looking at the rosters, lets learn more about the new  format of the NBA All-Star Game format.

This year the event will be held in the shadow of Kobe Bryant’s death.

Re-live Kobe’s greatest achievements and his most wonderful moments

The changes include a new fourth-quarter format that will honour the late LA Lakers player, who earned 18 NBA All-Star selections and a record-tying four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards.  Learn more here.

On February 6, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo selected the players for their teams at the 69th NBA All-Star Game. Lebron had the first pick because of the higher number of votes, but Giannis had the first pick in reserves.

Team Lebron

Starters:
• LeBron James, 16th All-Star selection, average 25pts/ 7,7 rebounds/ 10,8 assists,
also 9 triple-doubles in regular season 2019/2020;
• Anthony Davis, 7th All-Star selection, average 26,5pts/ 9,2 rebounds and
11 games with at least 40 points scored in regular season 2019/2020;
• Kawhi Leonard, 4th All-Star selection, average 27,1pts/ 7,5 rebounds/ 5 assists and 14 games with at least 30 points scored in regular season 2019/2020;
• Luka Doncic, 1st All-Star selection, average 28,8pts/ 9,5 rebounds/ 9 assists, also
12 triple-doubles, including 2x 40 points triple-doubles in regular season 2019/2020;
• James Harden, 8th All-Star selection, average 35,5pts/ 6,5 rebounds/ 7,3 assists and 16 games with at least 40 points cored in regular season 2019/2020.

Reserves: Damian Lillard, Ben Simmons, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Domantas Sabonis.

Team Giannis:

Starters:
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, 4th All-Star selection, average 30 pts/ 13,5 rebounds/ 6 assist, also 20 games with at least 30 pts/10 rebounds in regular season 2019/2020;
• Joel Embiid, 3rd All-Star selection, average 23pts/ 12 rebounds, also 30 double-doubles in regular season 2019/2020;
• Pascal Siakam, 1st All-Star selection, average 23,5 pts/ 7,6 rebounds, also
10 games with at least 30 points scored in regular season 2019/2020;
• Kemba Walker, 4th All-Star selection, average 22 pts/ 5 assists and
8 games with at least 30 points scored in regular season 2019/2020;
• Trae Young, 1st All-Star selection, average 29,7 pts/ 9,1 assists, also
9 games  with at least 40 points scored in regular season 2019/2020.

Reserves: Khris Middleton, Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert, Kyle Lowry, Brandon Ingram, Donovan Mitchell.

Just like Michael Buffer said, “Let’s get ready to rumble”!

NBA All-Stars Weekend – more than All-Stars Game

Finally! 3 days! 3 big events and all of this is special for fans from the entire world. Every year all players show their best side, not only for their own satisfaction but also in hopes of getting better contract or sponsorship agreement.

I will bring you ASW in short. LET’s GO!

NBA Rising Stars
USA vs World

U.S. Roster
Miles Bridges (Charlotte), Wendell Carter Jr. (Chicago), Devonte’ Graham (Charlotte), Tyler Herro (Miami), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis), Ja Morant (Memphis), Kendrick Nunn (Miami), Eric Paschall (Golden State), PJ Washington (Charlotte), Zion Williamson (New Orleans), Trae Young (Atlanta)

World Roster
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (New Orleans), Deandre Ayton (Phoenix), RJ Barrett (New York), Brandon Clarke (Memphis), Luka Doncic (Dallas), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Rui Hachimura (Washington), Svi Mykhailiuk (Detroit), Josh Okogie (Minnesota), Moritz Wagner (Washington)

As you can see, this it will be a game of 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the USA against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the rest of the world.

On point guard position Trea Young against Luka “Magic” Doncic. Under the basket Deandre Ayton against Zion Williamson. Wow!

Can’t even image 3-pointer from 12 meters or flying over the rim. Prepare yourself for this!

State Farm All-Star Saturday Night
Taco Bell Skills Challenge

Jayson Tatum, Boston
Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn
Derrick Rose, Detroit
Domantas Sabonis, Indiana
Patrick Beverley, LA
Bam Adebayo, Miami
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee
Pascal Siakam, Toronto

Defending champion Jayson Tatum is going to try again to show his best. But we also know big players are really good in this competition. So who will be the best in Chicago in 2020? We will see on Saturday, February 15 at 2 a.m. GMT.

MTN DEW 3- points contest

Trae Young, Atlanta
Joe Harris, Brooklyn
Devonte’ Graham, Charlotte
Zach LaVine, Chicago
Duncan Robinson, Miami
Damian Lillard, Portland
Buddy Hield, Sacramento
Davis Bertans, Washington

Defending champion Joe Harris going to try to win this contest for the second time in a row. This year it will be tough as it has ever been. Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine and of course Trea Young are hot in the regular season. It will be a great contest!

AT&T Slam Dunk

Dwight Howard, Los Angeles
Derrick Jones Jr., Miami
Pat Connaughton, Milwaukee
Aaron Gordon, Orlando

Big guys dominate the event this year. We’ve got Derrick Jones Jr with his unhuman vertical jump, Aaron Gordon who showed in 2016 what he’s capable of in the Slam Dunk contest. There’s Pat Connaughton keeps showing off a lot of posters this year. And last but not least, Dwight Howard – and we also remember “Superman is in the building”. I’m really curious what Dwight will show!