With the All-Star break representing the unofficial start of the NBA’s second half, all eyes are on Salt Lake City for this year’s festivities. The Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest, and Skills Challenge will take place on Saturday night before the main event itself is held on Sunday. Captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will conduct a live draft one hour before tipoff, with the stakes higher than ever as teams compete for higher seeding and individual awards. Who has what it takes to leave a lasting impression at this year’s All-Star Game? Don’t miss out – tune in Saturday to see who will steal the show and make Sunday’s main event even more spectacular!
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 18, 2023
Where: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Where to watch: TNT
Dunk Contest
Basketball fans, get ready—it’s time to crown a new dunk contest champion! Here are the participants in this year’s competition
NBA All Star Weekend – Slam Dunk Contest Winner
Dunk Contest
Kenyon Martin Jr. (HOU) +350
Mac McClung (PHI) -165
Jericho Sims (NYK) +550
Trey Murphy III (NOP) +650
K.J. Martin (HOU) +350
The 6’6 forward is the son of Kenyon Martin and known for his explosive leaping abilities. Plus, he’s already put down some of the best dunks of the season.
Mac McClung (PHI) -165
The competition just got a whole lot tougher with McClung entering the mix. The 6’2 G League guard and mixtape star was invited to this year’s contest to add some electricity to the night – and he promises to bring it! Known for his incredible leaping abilities, will McClung’s highlight-reel dunks be enough to take home the trophy
Trey Murphy III (NO Pelicans) +650
Murphy III is the final participant in this year’s dunk contest. The 6’9 forward brings a unique blend of size and shooting ability to the competition, but don’t be fooled – he can also throw it down with the best of them! With 62 dunks already this season, will Trey be able to bring home the trophy for the New Orleans Pelicans?
Jericho Sims (NY Knicks) +550
Sims is ready to take the court and show off his 44.5-inch max vertical – one of the best ever in combine history. Sims is a 6’10 center, who has no problem getting his eyes above the rim for some eye-popping dunks
Predictions
There’s no better time for Houston Rockets’ guard, K.J Martin to show off his all-around athleticism. The 6’4 guard has had a quietly impressive season and a big showing at the dunk contest could be just what he needs to become a household name. He’s our pick for the dunk contest.
NBA Dunk Contest Pick
The Pick: KJ Martin (HOU) +350NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
3-Point Contest
With the Skills Challenge kicking things off, the Three-Point Contest is the next event in line for NBA All-Star Saturday. Get ready to see some of the best sharpshooters in the league battle it out as all eight competitors take aim at the target. Who will be crowned champion and hoist the trophy?
Tyrese Haliburton (IND) +750
With the Skills Challenge kicking things off, the Three-Point Contest is the next event in line for NBA All-Star Saturday. Get ready to see some of the best sharpshooters in the league battle it out as all eight competitors take aim at the target. Who will be crowned champion and hoist the trophy?
Tyler Herro (MIA) +600
Ever since joining the Miami Heat, Tyler Herro has been putting on a scoring clinic and continues to show why he was named an All-Star this season. Although he isn’t known for being a pure shooter, Herro’s ability to hit shots off the dribble or the catch has helped him become one of the league’s most reliable scorers. This year, he is attempting more threes than ever before (averaging over 8 attempts per game) at a 37% rate – although it has ticked down slightly from previous seasons – and will be sure to bring his A-game Saturday night in order to take home the Three Point Contest title.
Buddy Hield (IND) +400
It’s been a meteoric rise for Buddy Hield who feels like just yesterday was the most electric scorer in college basketball, yet he has already turned 30 and is now an All-Star. Hield won the Three Point Contest last season and continues to prove himself as one of the most accurate shooters in the league. As such, he will be amongst the favorites to take home the title on Saturday night.
Kevin Huerter (SAC) +600
After a breakout season with the Sacramento Kings following an offseason trade from the Hawks, Kevin Huerter has shown off his skill as one of the best movement shooters in the league – likely to help him as he runs around the arc to shoot off the racks. Earlier this season, he openly campaigned for an invite to this contest on the Lowe Post podcast and now it’s time to back it up.
Damian Lillard (POR) +300
Damian Lillard, at the age of 32, has been having one of his best career season – likely sending him to the Hall of Fame. Since the calendar turned to 2023 he’s been putting up league-leading scoring numbers and continues to be one of the most dangerous pull-up shooters in the game. This year he is taking a career high 11.2 attempts per game from three and hitting them at his career average of 37 percent – making him one of the favorites for Saturday night’s Three Point Contest.
Lauri Markkanen (UTA) +700
While Lauri Markkanen will have the hometown fans backing him up in Utah, it’s fair to wonder if the pressure will get to him. At 25 years old, Markkanen has had a remarkable breakout season for the Jazz, becoming a first-time All-Star and putting himself in position to win the league’s Most Improved Player award. He has finally lived up to his college billing as one of the best shooters by hitting 41.2 percent of his threes – a career high. On Saturday night, he’ll look to continue this hot streak while competing in this year’s Three Point Contest.
Julius Randle (NYK) +1000
Julius Randle is the injury replacement for Anfernee Simons in this year’s Three Point Contest. After struggling with his shooting last season, Randle has enjoyed a nice bounce-back year and is currently hitting 33.8 percent of his triples. Unfortunately, he is pretty clearly the worst shooter in the competition – making it difficult to pick him as a favorite going into Saturday night.
Jayson Tatum (BOS) +600
Jayson Tatum has put his name in the MVP conversation this season with his standout performance on the best team in the NBA. With opposing defenses always keyed in on taking away his scoring chances, he is hitting only 35.7 percent of threes – but it’s no easy feat for him. He and Damian Lillard are two of the biggest names in this year’s Three Point Contest, and it will be fascinating to see if they can out-shoot everybody else.
Predictions
We’re predicting Damian Lillard to take the crown in this year’s Three Point Contest. He’s been absolutely on fire lately when it comes to shooting the ball, and he looks like he’s destined to win at least one of these competitions before his career is over.
NBA 3-Ppoint Contest Pick
The Pick: Damian Lillard +300NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
