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L-R: Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks, Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers and Cassius Stanley of the Indiana Pacers. /Li Jingjie CGTN
The complete schedule and participant list of this year's NBA All-Star events have been confirmed. The league worked hard to provide an exciting offering for fans despite the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, it sent invitations to Zion Williamson, Zach Lavine, Jaylen Brown, Miles Bridges, Anthony Edwards and Alex Caruso for the Slam Dunk Contest.
All of them said no. In the end, there will be only three players competing for the title during the halftime break of the All-Star Game at State Farm Arena on Sunday: Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers, Cassius Stanley of the Indiana Pacers and Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks.
L-R: Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb of the Atlanta Hawks, Dee Brown of the Boston Celtics, Jason Richardson of the Golden State Warriors and Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. /Li Jingjie CGTN
Despite the brilliant athleticism of all three, not one of them is noteworthy, especially compared with the five judges the NBA selected for the event. Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown, Jason Richardson, Josh Smith and Spud Webb will be rating the players for the event. The five have won a combined seven Slam Dunk Contest titles. Wilkins, known as the "Human Highlight Film," beat first-year rookie Michael Jordan to win it in 1985 in Indianapolis.
Compared with the disappointing dunker list, the names on the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge lists can't shine any brighter.
Top, L-R: Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Zach Lavine of the Chicago Bulls and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. Bottom, L-R: Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. /Li Jingjie CGTN
Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Zach Lavine, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Donovan Mitchell will compete in the 3-Point Contest. All were picked for this year's All-Star Game, and their 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made per game are listed below:
Curry – 4.8 triples, 41.1 percent
Booker – 2.1 triples, 36.7 percent
Lavine – 3.5 triples, 43.5 percent
Tatum – 2.6 triples, 36.4 percent
Brown – 2.3 triples, 38.9 percent
Mitchell – 3.3 triples, 38.2 percent
Top, L-R: Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic, Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Bottom, L-R: Robert Covington of the Portland Trail Blazers, Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers. /Li Jingjie CGTN
The Skills Challenge is more like a "USA vs. Europe" event as three from both will compete against each other. Chris Paul (USA), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Robert Covington (USA), Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania), Julius Randle (USA) and Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro).
Covington aside, Paul and Doncic averaged 9.0 assists each; both Sabonis and Vucevic are well-known for their elegant post moves and complete offensive skills; Randle began to rise as an orchestrating big man this season and he's able to deliver 5.5 assists per game.
Covington is the only non-All-Star of them, by the way.
The NBA put everything in one day this year because of the pandemic. On Sunday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta Georgia, the party will start with the Skills Challenge, followed by the 3-Point Contest. Then the All-Star Game will begin with the Slam Dunk Contest as the halftime show.
