The 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend is actually upon us. In the midst of the most unusual season as a result of the global pandemic and even with some backlash from some of the NBA's brightest stars, the league was able to piece together the mid-year event, albeit coming in a different form. Obviously, fans won't be able to watch the stars show out in person and will just have to settle on their television screens due to safety reasons.
The NBA announced the schedule of the festivities, which will happen on March 7th at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The official schedule of the All-Star Weekend will be as follows:
How to watch 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend
- 5:00 p.m. – TNT opens the coverage
- 6:30 p.m. – Skills Events featuring the Taco Bells Skills Challenge, followed by the Mountain Dew Three-Point Shootout
- 8:00 p.m. – NBA All-Star Game
- AT&T Slam Dunk Contest will happen during half time of the All-Star Game
A notable omission from this year's festivities is the Rising Stars Game. Despite the fact that no game will be played, the league still released 10-man rosters for both Team USA and Team World. So, that's how to watch the 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend… minus an annual event.
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
The Skills Events will begin with the Taco Bell Skills Challenge at 6:30 p.m. Participants won't feature any former champion, but will see last year's runner-up, Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis, try to attempt for redemption.
Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul, who last participated in the event a decade ago, will participate for the 4th time. Second-timers will include Portland Trail Blazers wing Robert Covington, the only non All-Star participant, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, and Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.
New York Knicks big man Julius Randle, a first time All-Star, will be the only newbie in the contest.
Mountain Dew Three-Point Shootout
The Mountain Dew Three-Point Shootout follows the Skills Challenge. Participants will include a couple of former long ball champions in Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry and Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.
Meanwhile, a couple of Slam Dunk champs in Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine, a two-time winner, and Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, the 2018 winner, will try their hand at the 3-point contest. Rounding out the 6-man cast will be the Boston Celtics All-Star tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both first timers in the contest.
It's relevant news and a noting point that all participants in the Mountain Dew Three-Point Shootout is a 2021 NBA All-Star. So, it's a 2021 NBA All-Star weekend circle of players.
AT&T Slam Dunk Contest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmeV7uGDvdw
Instead of the usual half time musical performance, this year's half time will feature the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. This year's contest will feature just three participants, namely Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers, Cassius Stanley of the Indiana Pacers, and Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks.
NBA All-Star Game
At 8 p.m., the actual All-Star game will begin starring Team LeBron versus Team Durant. And yes, the Kobe tribute is still there as the game will follow the same format that it did a year ago. The first three quarters will begin with a 0-0 score and the whoever scores more in 12 minutes wins the period.
Just like last year, there will be no time in the fourth quarter. Instead, the game will end when one team reaches the Final Target Score, which is set by taking the cumulative score of the leading team after the first three quarters and adding 24 points, which gives a nod to Kobe Bryant's jersey number.
The two captains already drafted their respective teams during a live broadcast at Inside the NBA on Thursday.
TEAM LEBRON
LeBron James picked first for the starters and selected Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as his no. 1 pick. The King rounded out his starting five with Golden State Warriors two-time MVP Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks Slovenian Sensation Luka Doncic, and Denver Nuggets MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.
Coming off the bench for Team LeBron will be Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers dynamic guard Ben Simmons, Phoenix Suns leader Chris Paul, Boston Celtics two-way wing Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis (getting the replacement nod for Kevin Durant) and Utah Jazz defensive anchor Rudy Gobert.
TEAM DURANT
On the other side, Kevin Durant won't be able to suit up for his team due to a hamstring injury. Nonetheless, he still participated in the All-Star draft and picked his Brooklyn Nets teammate Kyrie Irving as the first pick of Team Durant. KD rounded out his starting unit with Philadelphia 76ers MVP candidate Joel Embiid, L.A. Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard, the NBA's leading scorer Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards, and Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum. Tatum replaced Durant in the starting five.
Durant picked first among the reserves and immediately went for teammate James Harden as the obvious choice. He selected Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, the replacement for injured Lakers star Anthony Davis, as his no. 2 pick. The rest of Team Durant features New Orleans Pelicans high-flyer Zion Williamson, Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine, New York Knicks big man Julius Randle, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic, and Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.
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