All-Star blog: Participants for skills challenge and dunk, 3-point contest named

By Ryan Miller, KSL.com | Updated - Feb. 14, 2023 at 5:46 p.m. | Posted - Jan. 26, 2023 at 5:44 p.m.

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

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SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA All-Star Weekend is coming to Salt Lake City on Feb. 17-19.

Here's the latest news and updates on the midseason showcase.

Main event schedule

Friday, Feb. 17

NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Huntsman Center, 5 p.m.
NBA Rising Stars Game, Vivint Arena, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 18

NBA x HBCU Classic, Southern University vs. Grambling State University, Huntsman Center, 2 p.m.
All-Star Saturday Night, Vivint Arena, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 19

NBA G League Next Up Game, Huntsman Center, 1 p.m.
All-Star Draft, Vivint Arena, 5:30 p.m.
72nd NBA All-Star Game, Vivint Arena, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, 05:42 pm

3-Point Contest participants named

On Tuesday night, the eight participants that will take part in this year's STARRY 3-point Contest was announced. The contest will take place Saturday night.

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers

Kevin Huerter, Sacramento Kings

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

The STARRY 3-Point Contest participants ⬇️

Event format and rules: https://t.co/sBwYC60rDx pic.twitter.com/J1z01oUgpH

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 15, 2023

Tuesday, 05:34 pm

Slam Dunk participants named

On Tuesday night, the four participants that will take part in this year's AT&T Slam Dunk contest was announced. The dunk contest will take place Saturday night.

KJ Martin, Houston Rockets

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers

Jericho Sims, New York Knicks

Former Utah Jazz power forward Karl Malone will be one of the judges for the night's dunk contes.

Presenting 2023 #ATTSlamDunk Judge.. Karl Malone! #StateFarmSaturday: Feb. 18, TNT pic.twitter.com/PzGT9003CC

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 15, 2023

The AT&T Slam Dunk participants ⬇️

Event format and rules: https://t.co/ablHEJiuxU pic.twitter.com/mPI2q9c0Hd

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 15, 2023

Tuesday, 05:27 pm

NBA Skills Challenge participants, teams named

On Tuesday, the NBA announced the three teams and nine participants that will take part in Saturday night's Kia Skills Challenge.Team Antetokounmpos:

Alex Antetokounmpo, Wisconsin Herd (G League)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Thanasis Antetokounmpos, Milwaukee Bucks

Team Jazz:

Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz

Team Rooks:

Paolo Banchero, Orland Magic

Jaden Ivy, Detroit Pistons

Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

The Kia Skills Challenge participants and teams ⬇️

Event format and rules: https://t.co/VAIPdW1jWl pic.twitter.com/ur44fm07JN

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 15, 2023

Tuesday, 08:49 am

Utah's Lauri Markkanen to compete in 3-point contest at All-Star

Lauri Markkanen is going to have a busy weekend.Markkanen, who will start in Sunday's All-Star Game, will reportedly participate in Saturday's 3-point contest. He is shooting 41% from 3-point range this season and is one of the premier big-man shooters in the game.Markkanen will be joined by Boston's Jayson Tatum, Sacramento's Kevin Huerter, Miami's Tyler Herro, Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, and Portland's Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons.Jeff Hornacek is the only Jazz player to ever win the annual contest (Mike Conley came awfully close as an injury replacement participant in 2021). Hornacek won the contest twice in 1998 and 2000.

Friday, 12:03 pm

Lauri Markkanen named as replacement starter

Lauri Markkanen won't just be playing at the All-Star Game, he'll be starting in it.The Utah Jazz forward was named as a replacement starter by the NBA on Friday. Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Memphis guard Ja Morant were also moved into the starter pool along with Markkanen.Golden State guard Steph Curry, newly-minted Phoenix forward Kevin Durant, and New Orleans big Zion Williamson were originally named starters but will miss the game due to injury.Markkanen will be the first Jazz player to start in an All-Star Game since Karl Malone in 1998. Markkanen averages 24.7 points and 8.6 rebounds and is shooting 51.8% from the field, including 42.3% from 3-point range this season.Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox and Toronto's Pascal Siakam were named All-Star reserve replacements.

Wednesday, 10:46 am

All-Star Celebrity Game rosters announced

One mystery was partially solved on Wednesday: Why was former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson at a recent Jazz game?Turns out, he'll be coming back to Salt Lake City very soon.There will be plenty of celebrities coming to Utah for All-Star Weekend. Now, we'll know which ones will be suiting up to play.On Wednesday, the NBA announced the rosters for the All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 17 at the Huntsman Center.Johnson is among the group that features a collections of musicians, actors, and other athletes. Jazz owner Ryan Smith will captain one team with former NBA All-Star and Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade captaining the other.Smith's squad will be coached by WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, rapper and actor Fat Joe and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. Wade's team will be coached by Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Thanasis and Alex, along with three-time Olympic Medalist Lindsey Vonn.Team Ryan

Kane Brown (5-time American Music Award winner)

Cordae (rapper, recording artist)

Diamond DeShields (WNBA All-Star; Phoenix Mercury)

Calvin Johnson (former NFL player)

Marcos Mion (TV host)

The Miz (WWE Superstar)

Albert Pujols (MLB Player)

Everett Osborne (actor)

Ozuna (rapper, recording artist)

Guillermo Rodriguez (ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live correspondent)

Sinqua Walls (actor)

Team Dwyane

Nicky Jam (Latin global music icon and actor)

Jesser (content creator)

Simu Liu (actor)

Hasan Minhaj (comedian)

DK Metcalf (NFL player)

Janelle Monáe (actress, singer, songwriter)

Arike Ogunbowale (WNBA All-Star; Dallas Wings)

21 Savage (rapper, recording artist)

Ranveer Singh (actor and NBA Brand Ambassador for India)

Frances Tiafoe (tennis player)

Alex Toussaint (Peloton coach and Puma athlete)

Tuesday, 01:56 pm

Deron Williams picks Walker Kessler in Rising Stars draft

Appropriately enough, there will be a Jazz team-up during the Rising Stars event at All-Star Weekend.Former Utah Jazz All-Star Deron Williams selected Jazz rookie center Walker Kessler with the second-to-last pick of the Rising Stars draft on Tuesday.Williams will be one of three former players coaching the Rising Stars teams filled with NBA first and second year players. A fourth squad will be made up of G League players, including presumed No. 2 pick in 2023 Scoot Henderson. The four teams will play a three-game tournament.

Deron Williams, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol drafted their teams today for 2023 Jordan Rising Stars. Each legend selected seven players from the pool of 21 NBA rookies and sophomores. Jason Terry will lead the team of seven NBA G League players.

The Rising Stars rosters: pic.twitter.com/3OfO7fzSPR

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 7, 2023

Tuesday, 01:54 pm

G League All-Stars announced, featuring three players with local ties

The player pool for the G League Next Up game was announced Tuesday and it features three players with local ties.Former Lone Peak High guard Frank Jackson, Former Utah State big Neemias Queta, and fomer Lone Peak and BYU center Eric Mika were all selected to take part in the showcase game that will lead into the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 19.Jackson has averaged 19.3 points with the Salt Lake City Stars this season. Queta has averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 points playing with the Stockton Kings. Mika has averaged 10.5 points and 7.7 rebounds with the G League Ignite.The teams will be chosen by the two captains: G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, the presumed No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, and Luka Garza, who is on a two-deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Two-way @iawolves big man Luka Garza (@LukaG_55) and @gleagueignite guard Scoot Henderson (@thereal013) have been named team captains for the #GLeagueNextUpGame. Check out the full field of 24 players and tune in as they draft #TeamLuka and #TeamScoot on Feb. 14 at 2 pm/et. pic.twitter.com/gjeWNvqTeC

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 7, 2023

Thursday, 08:22 pm

The NBA All-Stars will be playing for these two local charities

Two local charities will greatly benefit from the All-Star Game being hosted by Salt Lake City.Team LeBron will play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, which creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships.Team Giannis will play for Raise the Future, which aims to decrease the number of youth in foster care and increase the chances of lifelong connection by providing trauma-healing services to young people and families.Each quarter of the NBA All-Star Game will be a separate competition with the teams playing to give their charity a bit more money.A total of $750,000 will be contributed to the two organizations through the NBA All-Star Weekend.

The beneficiaries for the 2023 #NBAAllStar Game have been selected!#TeamLeBron will play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah (@bbbsutah)#TeamGiannis will play for Raise the Future (@raisefuture)

In total, the game will raise more than 0,000 for the Utah community. pic.twitter.com/Qyay24YVnJ

— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2023

Thursday, 05:22 pm

Lauri Markkanen named to All-Star team as reserves are announced

The Utah Jazz will be represented when they host the All-Star Game on Feb. 19. On Thursday, Markkanen was selected to his first All-Star game, earning one of the reserve spots in the Western Conference.Markkanen has averaged 24.9 points and 8.3 rebounds so far this season, and has been one of the most efficient offensive players in the league. He's flirting with the famed 50-40-90 club, shooting 52% from the field, 43% from the 3-point line (on 7.2 attempts per game), and 87.5% from the free-throw line.Here are the rest of the All-Star reserves: Western Conference reserves

Paul George (LA Clippers)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)

Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)

Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)

Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Eastern Conference reserves

Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)

Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)

DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)

Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)

Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)

Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

Tuesday, 12:16 pm

Jazz rookie Walker Kessler named to Rising Stars Game

Walker Kessler was among the 11 NBA rookies who were named to the player pool for the Rising Stars competition on Friday, Feb, 17.For the second straight season, Rising Stars will feature a three-game mini-tournament with three teams filled with NBA rookies and sophomores, and another squad of G League players. The three NBA teams will be drafted from the player pool.Kessler, the 22nd pick in last year's draft, has averaged 7.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks this season."I'm thankful to my teammates and coaching staff," Kessler said. "I wouldn't be able to do it without them. Very, very excited. Very, very thankful. Very blessed. I'm gonna keep rambling, so I better stop, but very thankful."The coaches for the game will have some Jazz ties as well. Former Jazz guard Deron Williams will coach one of the NBA squads (former NBA players Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol will coach the other two), and Jazz assistant Jason Terry will lead the G League team.Here's the complete player pool for the Rising Stars tournament:Rookies:

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks

Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Sophomores:

Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder

Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks

Bones Hyland, Denver Nuggets

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

G League:

Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite

Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite

Mojave King, G League Ignite

Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Hustle

Mac McClung, Deleware Blue Coats

Leonard Miller, G League Ignite

Scotty Pippen Jr., South Bay Lakers

Thursday, 07:46 pm

All-Star jerseys revealed

The NBA unveiled the All-Star jerseys that players will be wearing in Salt Lake City — and one will look awfully familiar to Jazz fans.One of the jersey's design is a yellow-to-orange gradient that is quite reminiscent of Utah's original city jerseys it debuted during the 2017-18 season. The other design is a blue-to-black gradient.Since the All-Stars won't know their teams until just before the game begins, the league will need to have one of each uniform for all the players.

👀 New threads for the 2023 #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/nvvgajEb0R

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) January 27, 2023

2023 #NBAAllStar game jerseys have been leaked on the Cavaliers' website.

Are you a fan of them? pic.twitter.com/nUXY8PVUfh

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 27, 2023

Thursday, 05:28 pm

Donovan Mitchell will return to Utah for All-Star Game as a starter

Donovan Mitchell will be coming back to Utah — again.The Cleveland Cavaliers guard, who the Jazz traded in September, was voted in as an Eastern Conference All-Star starter on Thursday. So barring injury, Mitchell will be back in the place he called home for five seasons during All-Star Weekend. Mitchell was named an All-Star in his final three seasons with the Jazz.Starters were determined by a vote divided amongst fans (50%), media (25%) and players (25%). The All-Star reserves, which are chosen by conference coaches, will be announced on Feb. 2.East startersBackcourt: Kryrie Irving, Brooklyn; Donovan Mitchell, ClevelandFrontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo (captain), Milwaukee; Jayson Tatum, Boston; Kevin Durant, BrookylnWest startersBackcourt: Stephen Curry, Golden State; Luka Doncic, DallasFrontcourt: LeBron James, LAL(captain); Zion Williamson, New Orleans; Nikola Jokic, Denver

Monday, 10:34 pm

Mike Conley invited to participate in All-Star Skills Challenge

Mike Conley has been invited to play in the All-Stars Skills Challenge during NBA All-Star weekend. The Jazz guard told reporters of the invitation after Utah's win over Charlotte on Monday, but hadn't committed to participating just yet.Conley previously competed in the annual skills contest in 2019 when he played for Memphis when he was knocked out in the quarterfinals. The Skills Challenge will be on Feb. 18 as part of All-Star Saturday Night.

Saturday, 6:35 pm

Dunk contest starting to be revealed

The dunks contest will be main event for All-Star Saturday, but it doesn't appear it will be a too star-studded event.Here are the names who are reportedly in the field thus far:

Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

KJ Martin, Houston Rockets

Mac McClung, Delaware Blue Coats

Not exactly Dominique Wilkins vs. Michael Jordan.

All-Star blog: Participants for skills challenge and dunk, 3-point contest named

By Ryan Miller, KSL.com | Updated - Feb. 14, 2023 at 5:46 p.m. | Posted - Jan. 26, 2023 at 5:44 p.m.

Main event schedule

3-Point Contest participants named

Slam Dunk participants named

NBA Skills Challenge participants, teams named

Utah's Lauri Markkanen to compete in 3-point contest at All-Star

Lauri Markkanen named as replacement starter

All-Star Celebrity Game rosters announced

Deron Williams picks Walker Kessler in Rising Stars draft

G League All-Stars announced, featuring three players with local ties

The NBA All-Stars will be playing for these two local charities

Lauri Markkanen named to All-Star team as reserves are announced

Jazz rookie Walker Kessler named to Rising Stars Game

All-Star jerseys revealed

Donovan Mitchell will return to Utah for All-Star Game as a starter

Mike Conley invited to participate in All-Star Skills Challenge

Dunk contest starting to be revealed

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All-Star blog: Participants for skills challenge and dunk, 3-point contest named

By Ryan Miller, KSL.com | Updated - Feb. 14, 2023 at 5:46 p.m. | Posted - Jan. 26, 2023 at 5:44 p.m.

Main event schedule

3-Point Contest participants named

Slam Dunk participants named

NBA Skills Challenge participants, teams named

Utah's Lauri Markkanen to compete in 3-point contest at All-Star

Lauri Markkanen named as replacement starter

All-Star Celebrity Game rosters announced

Deron Williams picks Walker Kessler in Rising Stars draft

G League All-Stars announced, featuring three players with local ties

The NBA All-Stars will be playing for these two local charities

Lauri Markkanen named to All-Star team as reserves are announced

Jazz rookie Walker Kessler named to Rising Stars Game

All-Star jerseys revealed

Donovan Mitchell will return to Utah for All-Star Game as a starter

Mike Conley invited to participate in All-Star Skills Challenge

Dunk contest starting to be revealed

Most recent Utah Jazz stories

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Kenneth Lofton Jr.'s near triple-double leads Jazz to back-to-back victories

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Johnny Juzang's career-night not enough as Jazz lose 12th straight

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