2024 All-Star Weekend Predictions: Kobe Bryant MVP, 3-Point Contest Winner, Slam Dunk Champion

The NBA All-Star Weekend is going to start on Friday evening, and we have a ton to look forward to. The league is filled with talent right now and the competitions including the Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest, and the 73rd All-Star Game will likely break viewership records this season. We will also get to witness an iconic Celebrity Game featuring Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith, and an NBA-WNBA one-on-one Three-Point Contest featuring Stephen Curry.

All-Star Weekend is an incredible point in the season for NBA fans, and we can’t help but get excited for a stacked three-day event. After seeing what the All-Legends NBA Game at All-Star Weekend could look like in 2025, we hope that the 2024 All-Star Game and the events that precede it will be iconic for every NBA fan worldwide.

Friday, February 16th

Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: Team Shannon vs. Team Stephen A. (7.00 PM, ET)

Team Shannon: Anuel AA, Kai Cenat, Conor Daly, Walker Hayes, Quincy Isiaha, Jewell Loyd, Micah Parsons, Lilly Singh, SiR, Dylan Wang

Team Stephen A: Metta World Peace, Jack Ryan, CJ Stroud, Gianmarco Tamberi, Adam Blackstone, Natasha Cloud, Jennifer Hudson, Tristan Jass, AJ McLean, Kwame Onwuachi

The 2024 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game promises a star-studded lineup from various entertainment spheres, including music, sports, film, and more. Notable personalities set to grace the player rosters include the youngest female EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, former NBA Champion Metta World Peace, NFL standouts Micah Parsons and CJ Stroud, IndyCar Series racer Conor Daly, Grammy-nominated recording artists AJ McLean, Walker Hayes, and SiR, along with Grammy-nominated musician Adam Blackstone.

Emmy-winning entertainer Lilly Singh, actors Dylan Wang and Quincy Isaiah, streamer Kai Cenat, content creator Tristan Jass, basketball entertainer Jack Ryan, and James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi will also feature on the court.

Returning for their second Celebrity Game appearances are Olympic High Jump Champion Gianmarco Tamberi and Latin American Music Award-winning recording artist Anuel AA. Each team will also feature a WNBA star, with two-time WNBA champion and five-time Seattle Storm All-Star Jewell Loyd and WNBA Champion and Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud joining opposing rosters.

Adding to the excitement, ESPN NBA Analyst and First Take star Stephen A. Smith will take on coaching duties opposite First Take co-star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. Grammy-winning recording artist Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will also step into the coaching role for Team Shannon.

With so many big names on both teams, it is hard to argue against the fact Stephen A. Smith has some professional team athletes including Metta World Peace and CJ Stroud. Adding in the fact that Stephen A. Smith has WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson and the swagger of legendary rapper Lil Wayne, Stephen A. will get the victory and will make sure the world hears about it on ESPN.

Winner: Team Stephen A. vs. Team Shannon 83-76

Panini Rising Stars (9.00 PM, ET)

Team Pau: Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller, Brandin Podziemski, Jaime Jaquez. Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Cason Wallace, Bilal Coulibaly

Team Tamika: Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Keegan Murray, Scoot Henderson, Keyonte George, Vince Williams Jr. (Replacing the injured Dyson Daniels)

Team Jalen: Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Bennedict Mathurin, Dereck Lively II, Jordan Hawkins, Walker Kessler, Jeremy Sochan (Replacing injured Shaedon Sharpe)

Team Detlef: Izan Almansa, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Mac McClung, Tyler Smith, Oscar Tshiebwe, Alondes Williams

For the third consecutive year, the All-Star showcase will include a thrilling three-game mini-tournament featuring four teams comprised of NBA rookies, sophomores, and NBA G League Players.

Gasol (Team Pau), Catchings (Team Tamika), and Rose (Team Jalen) handpicked their squads through the Rising Stars Draft, which aired live on the NBA App on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Schrempf (Team Detlef) will take the coaching reins for the NBA G League players’ team.

In a departure from traditional time-based endings, all three games in the mini-tournament will conclude on a made basket or free throw, known as the Final Target Score.

The first two semifinal matches, Game 1 and Game 2 will play to a Final Target Score of 40 points each.

The championship showdown will see the victorious teams from the semifinals facing off, battling to a Final Target Score of 25 points to crown the ultimate tournament champion.

Game 1: Team A vs. Team B

Game 2: Team C vs. Team D

Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

It will be tough to decide who can win the Rising Stars competition although the edge has to go to Team Pau who also won it last year (Jose Alvarado was the MVP). Victor Wembanyama will make his mark felt this season and start gaining steam for the Rookie of the Year award. Bolstered by Brandon Miller, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Jabari Smith Jr, Wembanyama has enough talent to shine for his side although Paolo Banchero from Team Tamika and Chet Holmgren from Team Jalen won’t make it easy for any team they play against.

Winner: Team Pau

Saturday, February 17th

Kia Skills Challenge (8.00 PM, ET)

Team Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Myles Turner

Team Top Picks: Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama

Team All-Stars: Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young

The Kia Skills Challenge is always an exciting event where a mix of talented NBA stars get together to form a three-man team to showcase their passing, dribbling, and shooting skills. Being quick with the ball and also being efficient is the key to a rather evenly-matched competition.

Team Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, boasts a versatile roster with Haliburton’s exceptional ball handling and court vision, Bennedict Mathurin’s speed and agility, and Myles Turner’s surprising combination of size and dexterity. Meanwhile, Team Top Picks features Paolo Banchero’s formidable basketball IQ and versatility, Anthony Edwards’ explosive athleticism and quickness, and Victor Wembanyama’s towering presence and impressive agility.

Lastly, Team All-Stars, comprising Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey, and Trae Young, brings a blend of versatility, speed, and skill, with Barnes’s standout combination of size and speed, Maxey’s agility, and Young’s creativity and finesse. Each team possesses unique strengths that promise an exciting competition.

Historically, the hometown advantage has proven significant in the Kia Skills Challenge, as evidenced by recent wins by Team Jazz and Team Cavs. With Team Pacers representing the home crowd, buoyed by Haliburton’s leadership and the diverse skill sets of Mathurin and Turner, they stand poised to continue this trend.

However, they face stiff competition from the versatile Team Top Picks, led by Banchero’s basketball IQ and Edwards’s athleticism, as well as the dynamic Team All-Stars, featuring Barnes’s size and speed, Maxey’s agility, and Young’s creativity. As the teams vie for victory in a series of skill-based challenges, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown, with Team Pacers aiming to leverage their home-court advantage to claim the coveted title.

Winner: Team Pacers

Starry 3-Point Contest

Participants: Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Trae Young

The Starry 3-Point Contest promises a thrilling showcase of sharpshooting prowess with an impressive lineup of participants, including Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Trae Young. As they step onto the court, each competitor will aim to outshoot the rest.

In this contest, the layout of the ball racks adds an exciting dimension to the competition. With four racks containing four official NBA game balls and one multi-colored “money” ball, shooters must strategically navigate their shots to maximize their scoring potential. Each NBA game ball is worth one point, while the coveted multi-colored “money” ball carries a higher value of two points. Timing becomes crucial as the “money” ball can only be attempted after the four orange balls on each rack have been shot.

Adding to the intensity, a special “all money ball” rack awaits each competitor, with every ball on this rack worth two points. The placement of this rack at one of the five main shooting locations allows shooters to strategically position it to their advantage. Furthermore, two ball pedestals positioned at “STARRY Range” present an additional challenge for contestants, testing their long-range accuracy.

With reigning champion Damian Lillard returning to defend his title, the competition is sure to be fierce as shooters vie for supremacy in the Starry 3-Point Contest. Likely, new Milwaukee Bucks star Lillard will impressively retain his three-point title, fending off stiff competition from Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyrese Haliburton.

Winner: Damian Lillard

Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Contest

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, will go head-to-head against New York Liberty guard Sabrina Lonescu, holder of the WNBA single-season 3-point record, in the inaugural “Stephen vs. Sabrina” NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge.

Adding a philanthropic twist, Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play. nonprofit and Ionescu’s SI20 Foundation will receive donations from both the NBA and WNBA. Moreover, each successful shot by Curry and Ionescu will prompt a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation, supporting economic empowerment in the Black community. Every regular 3-pointer made will contribute $1,000, while the money ball will tally $2,000, and the challenging “STARRY Range Ball” – a deep 3-pointer from 29 feet, 9 inches away – will add $3,000 to the donation fund.

Following the standard rules of the STARRY 3-Point Contest, Curry will shoot from the NBA 3-point line using NBA basketballs, while Ionescu will take her shots from the WNBA 3-point line with WNBA basketballs. The friendly rivalry stems from Ionescu’s impressive performance, where she set a record-breaking 37 points in the final round of the STARRY WNBA 3-Point Contest during AT&T WNBA All-Star 2023, prompting Curry to accept her challenge. The challenge was reignited when Curry, mic’d up during a Golden State game, threw down the gauntlet once again. Ionescu officially accepted the challenge on social media.

With Curry boasting two NBA 3-Point Contest titles and a staggering 3,631 regular-season 3-pointers, and Ionescu setting a WNBA single-season record with 128 3-pointers in 2023, anticipation is high for this thrilling showdown between two sharpshooting legends. As great as Ionescu is as a shooter, Curry won’t let his legacy take a hit with this loss and will win the shooting showdown.

Winner: Stephen Curry

AT&T Slam Dunk

Participants: Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Mac McClung, Jacob Toppin

The AT&T Slam Dunk contest boasts a dynamic lineup of participants, each bringing their own flair and creativity to the competition. Returning champion Mac McClung, known for his stunning victory last year, will undoubtedly aim to defend his title with another awe-inspiring performance. However, he’ll face fierce competition, particularly from the explosive athleticism of Jaylen Brown, who is poised to make a strong impact on the contest.

Mac McClung’s victory last year demonstrated his ability to captivate audiences with his creativity and athleticism. His dunking prowess and showmanship make him a formidable contender once again, as he seeks to retain his crown with a series of jaw-dropping slams.

On the other hand, Jaylen Brown’s reputation for high-flying dunks and remarkable athleticism positions him as a frontrunner in this year’s competition. His ability to soar through the air with power and finesse promises a thrilling showcase of aerial acrobatics.

While McClung’s previous triumph adds an element of unpredictability to the contest, it’s anticipated that Jaylen Brown’s explosive athleticism will ultimately propel him to the final showdown against McClung and win his first Slam Dunk title.

Winner: Jaylen Brown

Sunday, February 18th

73rd NBA All-Star Game: East vs. West (8.00 PM, ET)

Eastern Conference All-Stars

Starters: Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo

Bench: Trae Young, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Scottie Barnes, Paolo Banchero

Western Conference All-Stars

Starters: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic

Bench: Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis

The 73rd NBA All-Star Game presents a thrilling showdown between the Eastern and Western Conferences, boasting an impressive array of talent on both sides. The old-school format of East vs West is back and that could help improve the competition that both teams will have against each other.

The Eastern Conference lineup features a formidable starting five, headlined by the scoring prowess of Damian Lillard and the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo, complemented by the versatile skills of Jayson Tatum and the defensive presence of Bam Adebayo. Off the bench, the East showcases depth with dynamic playmakers like Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell, along with emerging talents such as Jalen Brunson and Paolo Banchero.

On the Western Conference side, the starting lineup is equally formidable, led by perennial superstars LeBron James and Kevin Durant, alongside the playmaking abilities of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the scoring prowess of Luka Doncic. In Nikola Jokic, the West boasts a skilled facilitator and dominant force in the paint. The bench further bolsters the team’s firepower with sharpshooters like Stephen Curry and Devin Booker, as well as defensive stalwarts like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

In what promises to be a closely contested battle, the Western Conference is predicted to emerge victorious, leveraging its depth and versatility to outlast the star-studded Eastern lineup. With both teams showcasing an abundance of talent and athleticism, fans can anticipate an electrifying game filled with highlight-reel plays and intense competition. 

The final score prediction favors the Western Conference with a narrow win, clinching victory with a scoreline of 170 to 165 over the Eastern Conference. Kevin Durant will earn his third All-Star Game MVP, scoring 42 points (20 points in the second half) to continue adding to his Hall of Fame resume. 

Winner: West vs. East 170-165

MVP: Kevin Durant

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