More on All-Star Contests
Mike Conley confirmed to Grind City Media on Monday he has accepted the league’s invitation to participate in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at the Spectrum Center. All-Star Weekend is Feb. 15-17 at the home arena of the Charlotte Hornets, owned by Michael Jordan.
San Antonio Spurs Davis Bertans he will not participate at the NBA’s 3-Point Shootout at the 2019 All-Star break despite his wish to be there with a post on his social media thanked his team for the support he got.
Chris Haynes: Golden State star Klay Thompson tells Yahoo Sports he will not participate in the 3-Point Contest in Charlotte at All-Star Weekend.
Terrence Ross said he was told by the NBA staffer he spoke to about competing in the 3-point shoot at the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte on Feb. 17 that the event was already full of participants. Reportedly, brothers Steph Curry and Seth Curry have already committed to compete in the 3-point shootout in their childhood home of Charlotte, as has veteran Dallas Mavericks’ forward Dirk Nowitzki. ``I wanted to do the 3-point and I tried to get in this year, but they told me that they already had the guys for it,’’ Ross said. ``That was a little disappointing.’’
Brian Lewis: Joe Harris will make the #NbaAllstars 3-point contest, according to a league source. #Nets
Chris Dempsey: #Nuggets POBO, Tim Connelly, on his team's All-Star representation: "So excited for Nikola, but he shouldn't be our only player in Charlotte. Jamal's personal & team success made him worthy. And the impact Monte and Torrey have made merited a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge."
The NBA already has announced that he’ll be an honorary coach for the World Team when they play the US Team in the Rising Stars game on Feb. 15. “It’s going to be fun, Friday the coaching, Saturday competing in the 3-point contest, and then Sunday playing a bit,” Nowitzki said. “I’ll hopefully make it fun and enjoy the weekend.”
Chris Haynes: Oklahoma City guard Hamidou Diallo is expected to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Casey Holdahl: “I’m shooting against the Curry’s in they hometown... I’m going to win, I’m in there to win.” — @Dame_Lillard
RJ Marquez: Davis Bertans says he absolutely wants to compete in 3-point shooting contest at #NBAAllStar weekend...said he was told he possibly wasn’t shooting enough...”I’ve haven’t heard that in my life before” Bertans made five 3s tonight, leads league in 3-pt percentage. #NBA #Spurs pic.twitter.com/Duz7HO6Ai5
Jeff Zillgitt: NBA Rising Stars rosters for U.S. team and world team: 📸: @nba
Each participant on the World Team’s 10-player roster hails from a different country, with four continents represented (North America, Africa, Europe and Australia). The World Team also includes three players who participated as campers in Basketball Without Borders (BWB), the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program: Ayton (BWB Global 2016), Gilgeous-Alexander (BWB Global 2016) and Markkanen (BWB Europe 2014; BWB Global 2015).
Boston’s Kyrie Irving (U.S. Team) and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki (World Team) will serve as honorary coaches in MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars. The official Rising Stars head coaches will be an assistant coach from each 2019 NBA All-Star Game coaching staff. The All-Star Game coaching staffs are determined by the best record in each conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 3.
RJ Marquez: #Spurs news: Confirmed Davis Bertans wants to compete in #NBAAllStar 3-point contest and feels he's earned it. Nothing official has been announced by league on his participation, but expect something soon. Bertans leads league in 3-point FG percentage (.492%) #NBA #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/klWyHqtSfR
Jabari Young: So I’m told Davis Bertans wanted to participate in the #NBAAllStarGame2019 3-Pt contest, but got stiffed... apparently told he didn’t shoot enough of them... weird because I swear there are at least 2 guys in the contest who doesn’t either 🤷🏿♂️ #Spurs @TheAthleticNBA
Jabari Young: So I’m told Davis Bertans wanted to participate in the #NBAAllStarGame2019 3-Pt contest, but got stiffed... apparently told he didn’t shoot enough of them... weird because I swear there are at least 2 guys in the contest who doesn’t either 🤷🏿♂️ #Spurs @TheAthleticNBA
Connor Letourneau: Asked if he plans to participate in the 3-point contest, Klay Thompson said, "I don't know. I'll take a couple more days, probably."
Tom Orsborn: Asked Derrick White pre-game about the possibility of playing in the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend: “It would be pretty cool, but I haven’t heard anything. Growing up, you just watch all the events at the All-Star game. It would be cool to be a part of any event."
Shams Charania: Sacramento's Buddy Hield will participate in the 3-point shootout at All-Star weekend in Charlotte, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium.
Jay Allen: I asked @Seth Curry recently who would win a 3-pt. contest between him & @Stephen Curry: "Oh me, me me. I'm always confident in my shot, so it would be a fun night; and going against my bro, it would be good entertainment." @Portland Trail Blazers #RipCity @RipCityRadio620
Mark Berman: Eric Gordon (@Eric Gordon) would like to get invited to compete in the three-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend: "I would love to be in it again since I won it just two years ago..I'd definitely like to get that chance and represent Houston." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/Mf1qIb2gaW
Shams Charania: Sources @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium: Mavericks future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki has committed to the NBA 3-point shootout at All-Star weekend. So Dallas will have Nowitzki in 3-point shootout, Dennis Smith Jr. in Dunk Contest and Luka Doncic in Skills Competition.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry plans to join his brother Seth Curry of the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA All-Star Weekend 3-point contest in Charlotte, North Carolina, Stephen told ESPN on Friday night. The competition will take place Feb. 16. The Currys grew up in Charlotte, and Stephen was an All-American at nearby Davidson College.
Brad Townsend: Doncic on if he's looking forward to the skills competition and All-Star weekend: "Yeah, for sure. Obviously I can’t do slam dunk. But yeah, I’m excited to go in the skills challenge and have fun."
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has been invited to participate in the NBA 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The league is still rounding out its list of contestants for the Feb. 16 event, sources said.
It will be a full weekend for Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, as he was invited to and will participate in the Skills Challenge during the Saturday session, according to an NBA source. Tatum, 20, is also expected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 15 at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center. The invitation for Tatum to the Skills Challenge is a sign of respect for his ascension in the league.
The Vertical: We received a response from @Joe Ingles himself in reference to our petition to get him in the Skills Challenge. Not the answer we were hoping for. pic.twitter.com/dV4N5tPe4P
Charlotte, North Carolina, will be the site of this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend in February, but Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles doesn’t plan on being anywhere near the area. Despite a Yahoo Sports petition being started last week to get him in the Skills Challenge, Ingles would rather spend the time with his wife, Renae, and twin children far, far away from the festivities. “You know exactly what my thoughts are on that. You know what my answer’s going to be. I’m going on vacation,” Ingles said. “I’m going to spend time with my kids and my wife. That’s it.”
As of Wednesday morning, ahead of Utah’s game versus Denver, more than 2,400 people had signed the petition with a 2,500 goal in mind. Ingles’ teammate Donovan Mitchell even shared it via social media with the Twitter hashtag #Joe2Skills, while the Yahoo Sports staff has continued to promote it across the web. While most would be flattered, Ingles is different. “I don’t know who started it,” Ingles said. “I don’t know why they started it, they should’ve known the answer. I’m having some time off.”
Marc Stein: Dirk Nowitzki has been invited to participate in the 3-point contest at All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, league sources say.
Marc Stein: It will be Nowitzki's sixth career entry into the Long Distance Shootout ... in his 21st (and possibly last) season. The lifelong Dallas Maverick won the 3-point crown in 2006.
Marco Belinelli wants to see Davis Bertans stay busy over the All-Star break. The winner of the 3-point contest at the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans is endorsing Bertans for this year's long-ball showcase. "One-hundred percent, no question about it, he should be invited," said Belinelli, the only Spur to ever win the 3-point contest.
Scott Agness: I asked Victor Oladipo about the All-Star Dunk Contest and whether he’d do it a third time. “Never again,” he said. “I’m done with the dunk contest.”
Barry Jackson: Derrick Jones Jr said he has not received word on whether he will be invited to slam dunk contest all star weekend but will participate if invited
Eric Walden: Donovan, on why he's skipping the Dunk Contest this year: "I remember last year when I came back from All-Star [weekend], I was tired. … We haven’t really taken off like we thought we would have, so … it would be better just to rest and mentally be focused for the second half." pic.twitter.com/5H57wzjpNk
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell broke into the national spotlight during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles last year after winning the Slam Dunk contest. However, the second-year guard won’t be defending his crown at NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte this February at the Spectrum Center. Although he isn’t competing in the dunk contest, Deseret News sources say he hasn’t ruled out the Rising Stars Game on Friday, Feb. 15.
“I loved doing the dunk contest last year and it was a ton of fun, but I also know it takes a lot of focus, practice and preparation,” Mitchell told the Deseret News. “Right now, my mind is really on helping my team make a deep run (in the) second half of the season. I’m excited though for the weekend, I’m going to be able to be a part of some great events.”
Carmichael Dave: I’m told the Sacramento Kings will have 4 representatives invited to all star weekend in Charlotte. Buddy Hield in the 3 point contest, and De’Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Marvin Bagley in the Rising Stars Challenge. No word if Fox will be in the Skills Competition.
A campaign definitely isn't coming from Lopez. He made that clear in the visiting locker room at the Pepsi Center in Denver after connecting on a career-high 8 three-pointers Nov. 11 – the night he began to be called by the nickname "Splash Mountain." The last time he campaigned for something was for a student government position in high school and he finished last. That was enough for him to decide he isn't a very good politician or campaigner. “That would be pretty wild, it would be fun," Lopez said of potentially being included in the contest. “I’m just going to go out and do what I do on the court and if it happens that would be great.”
Comparing Lopez's numbers to those of shooters who participated in last year's three-point contest, Lopez has more three-pointers than Bradley Beal, Tobias Harris and winner Devin Booker had at this point last season. His percentage (37.4) is also higher than what Beal and Eric Gordon had through 40 games. “Of course, I’d put my money on it, yeah," said Tony Snell, who is Lopez's shooting partner in post-practice three-point shooting games, when asked if Lopez deserved a spot in the competition. “That would put the icing on the cake, man.”
Lopez has made seven or more three-pointers in three games this season, something only Stephen Curry (six), James Harden (six) and Kemba Walker (four) have done more often. Only Harden and Lopez have recorded back-to-back games of seven or more three-pointers.
Participants in the 2019 NBA Three-Point Contest will be announced in the coming weeks, and the Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of an all-out campaign for sharpshooter Joe Harris.
Ira Winderman: Heat's Derrick Jones Jr. celebrates his leap year. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… And, yes, he would welcome an invitation to return to the dunk contest, "If they call me when I'm 32, trust me, I'm in that dunk contest. I'm not going to turn that down. That's a whole lot of fun."
With Vince Carter in the midst of his 21st NBA season, there's been a movement among some to recruit him to compete in February's dunk contest at All-Star weekend. But Carter says it's not going to happen, and that's because he knows he can't come close to replicating his legendary performance in 2000. "I don't think about doing it," the Atlanta Hawks veteran told teammate Kent Bazemore and Annie Finberg on The Ringer's "Winging It" podcast. "We all ... go back and talk about the dunk contest from 2000 and what it did for people and where you were and all of that, and I know what it did for me. So I feel like to taint it, 18-19 years later, why?"
Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon electrified the NBA world in the Slam Dunk Contest in 2016 and ’17, and he was expected to return to do the same this season in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, he’s taking a step back. “No, I’m not doing it [this year],” Gordon told Yahoo Sports. “It’s more focusing on winning and becoming a complete player and getting to the playoffs.”
But the 7-foot “Cajun Kid’’ has another dream — being in Charlotte during All-Star Weekend in February. The 20-year-old’s pie-in-the-sky hope is hitting the daily double — being selected to the Rookie-Sophomore All-Star Game then competing in the slam-dunk contest. “It’s crossed my mind,’’ Robinson told The Post after setting the Knicks’ rookie record for blocks with nine Sunday against the Magic. “I always wanted to be in one — a dunk contest. If I have a chance, why not go for it. And if I get selected for that [the rookie-sophomore game], it would be great, too. It’s a big dream of mine. Maybe I can do both.’’
Omari Sanfoka II: Jaren Jackson Jr. says he hopes his former teammate at Michigan State, Miles Bridges, makes the dunk contest. "If he's there, then I gotta go. I just want to go so I can put on a fit and be there on the sideline. I gotta have an excuse to wear something."
Tim MacMahon: Dennis Smith Jr. “I’m not doing the dunk contest this year.” He adds that “the gimmicks and everything that go with it, I’m not with it.”
GRIII was rooting on his teammate, Victor Oladipo, in the dunk contest. Oladipo had approached Robinson III about doing the dunk contest and handling his unfinished business. A thoughtful, nice gesture. And now Glenn wants his own shot. Upon returning to Indianapolis for the final two months of the season, Robinson III told VigilantSports.com that he wants in another Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend. He won in 2017 and would like the chance to defend his crown.
NBA 2K18 MyTEAM: Congrats to the #NBA Skills champ, Spencer Dinwiddie! Grab his new Diamond Moments Card on #NBA2K18 now! Spencer Dinwiddie: Momma I made it! :sob:...I’ll even forgive y’all for not @ me
James on never participating in the Dunk Contest - "There were multiple years when I seriously considered entering the Dunk Contest. One year, I don’t remember what year, it was maybe ’05 or ’06, I injured my ankle two games before the Dunk Contest. And then I had one time ... I think I got injured before the All-Star break once again and I didn’t want to test jumping on my leg and jumping on my ankle and then have to play in the game the following day. I think about it all the time actually. I know, at this point I’m probably never going to do it, but I’ve thought about it year after year after year. You see the guys that we have in our Dunk Contest this year and the age, no. I’m gonna stay away from it now."
As Donovan Mitchell left the press room of the Staples Center, trophy in hand, his heels dragged against the carpet. He hadn’t eaten all day. How could he? As he faced the realization of a childhood ambition for hours leading up to Saturday night, all other thoughts fell by the wayside. “Believe it or not,” he said, “I’ve been preparing for this since I was a kid.”
Jovan Buha: Donovan Mitchell says he's been practicing for the dunk contest since he was a kid. Mitchell on the difference between now and then: "I didn't know I'd be able to jump this high, so I kind of added a few more tricks." espn.com/espn/now?nowId… pic.twitter.com/GwFD4b4prj
Aaron Gordon: BIG SHOUTOUT @Donovan Mitchell for winning the dunk contest!!! Well done Brody. #morethanadunker
Ryan Wolstat: Devin Booker wins the three-point shootout with 28, beating Klay Thompson and Tobias Harris. Klay had 25
Derek Bodner: Devin Booker: "My preparation was none. My rookie year I stayed at the gym extra, shot off the rack a lot more. This time I just got here, practiced right before I went out there and ended up coming out with the win."
Mark Medina: Klay Thompson on if he will play 3-point shootout in Charlotte next year. "Maybe. We'll see. It's a long ways away man. Just trying to get through the weekend." Steph expressed uncertainty earlier this week, too.
Chris Dempsey: Jamal Murray wants to participate in it again. "I want to do the skills again. It’s a fun event. A lot of people want to pass over the skills and just go to the dunk contest or the 3-point contest. But to watch it and be in it are two different things. It was a lot of fun."
Brian Lewis: Dinwiddie: "That's one of the marks of my game is being able to affect the game in multiple ways, whether it be passing, defending or scoring. Good thing they didn't have a rebounding challenge..in this or I wouldn't have won" #Nets
Brian Lewis: Spencer Dinwiddie became only the 2nd #Nets player to win the #NBA All-Star Skills Challenge. He joined Hall of Fame finalist Jason Kidd, who won the inaugural event in 2003.
Caris LeVert: Yeahhhhhh Spence @Spencer Dinwiddie
Eric Woodyard: Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie wins the 2018 Taco Bell Skills Challenge.
Eddie Sefko: Dennis Smith on if he'll try to do anything Jordanesque tonight in the dunk contest: “Everybody can’t be like Mike. I’m just trying to go out and win it."
Chris Haynes: LeBron James said there were multiple years he seriously considered entering Slam Dunk Contest, but says minor injuries occurred. The 05-06 season was a year he intended to compete in.
With 19,067 people mostly on their feet in Staples Center, Baron Davis stuck his head out of the sunroof while wearing Los Angeles Clippers warm-up gear and a red headband. His Clippers teammate Blake Griffin needed a memorable dunk as JaVale McGee was eying the trophy in 2011. While the Kia Ultima wasn’t Griffin’s car of choice, he made it work. And in one of the most memorable and debated NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Championships, Griffin sealed the victory by jumping over the silver sedan, somehow having the timing to catch a misplaced one-handed lob pass by Davis and dunking the basketball hard with two hands. “I was worried that I wasn’t going to get the dunk down,” Griffin said. “The idea was to windmill it. It was a little high. So, then I was just like, ‘Dunk it.’ So right after I dunked it, I came down and I was pissed because I didn’t think it was going to be good enough. But it worked out. But like everything, there was controversy.”
DeRozan offered a strong remake of former slam dunk champion J.R. Rider’s “East Bay funk dunk” by taking the ball through his legs in the air before jamming it. Somehow, he only received a score of 44. The Compton, California, kid was perfect on his second dunk, receiving a 50 after he threw the ball in the air, scooped it with his right hand, turned his back to the basket and finished with an acrobatic dunk. “I put a lot of thoughts into my dunks and executed them as planned,” DeRozan said. “Most definitely, I thought I did everything in my power to be in a position to win the event.”
McGee’s final dunk was a fierce slam off the backboard in which he came from the left side, was well above the rim, caught the ball up high with his right hand and dunked it in. Despite the creativity, McGee said he didn’t spend a lot of time preparing for the contest. “I didn’t put a lot of time or effort in, to tell the truth,” McGee said. “I [created] all my dunks at the practice. The two-rim dunk I didn’t create until the practice day.” While McGee’s final dunk was acrobatic, it didn’t have the flair that Griffin saved for last.
On his way over here, Warriors guard Stephen Curry asked Klay Thompson a simple question. Does Thompson plan to practice before competing in the NBA 3-point competition on Saturday as part of NBA All-Star weekend? “He said no,” Curry said. “So I’m taking Klay. That means he’s going to be locked in.”
Larry Nance Jr. has envisioned what would happen if he follows up his father’s victory in the NBA’s inaugural Slam Dunk Contest in 1984 with a triumph of his own during All-Star Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles. “It’s fun to talk about, sit around the house with my fiancee,” Nance said. “Like, ‘How cool would it be, at home we have mine next to his, we’d be able to hold them up and take a picture?’ I’m just excited to get the opportunity to try.”
As for tips from Dad, who played for the Cavs from 1987-94, Nance said: “Make the first one. I don’t want to be that guy that’s out there missing.” The contest requires a prop or a partner, frequently a teammate or old teammate. If his is Larry Sr., he wouldn’t let on.
“Every now and again we’d get to talking trash and he’d pull out the VHS tapes of him winning the dunk contest set to the corny background music,” Larry Jr. said after the Cavs’ victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. “It was almost like a family tradition every year.”
Quavo, one-third of superstar hip hop outfit Migos, has become known for his athletic exploits, and he showed them off in an MVP-winning performance during the All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night. Playing for Team Clippers, he finished with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists on 7-of-10 shooting in a 75-66 win.
Daryl Morey: Love @Rachel__Nichols preaching the Ruffles 4 point shot! Antoine Walker needs to be on your team Rachel... #RufflesCelebGame
Chris Dempsey: Jamal Murray, on trying to win a second Rising Stars MVP tonight: "We'll see what happens. I'm going to get hot again. Just do what I do best and take it from there." #Nuggets
Chris Dempsey: Murray, on getting into L.A. at 2:15 a.m. and having to get right back up a few hours later for Rising Stars practice: "It's part of it. Can't overthink it. It is what it is right now. Hope I've got enough in me for the game." #Nuggets
