Saturday 14th February LIVE @ 11am –All-Star Celebrity Game & 1pm – NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge
Sunday 15th February LIVE @ 12pm – NBA All-Star Saturday Night
Monday 16th February LIVE @ 12pm – NBA All-Star Game (encore 7pm on ESPN2)
There will never be an occasion where more collective talent assembles on a basketball court than during the NBA All-Star game. While there are many familiar faces for both conferences in starting berths and the reserves line-up, there have also been some surprise omissions, including Portland’s Damian Lillard and Hawks’ Kyle Korver.
Kevin Durant’s omission from the starting line-up in the Western Conference side is the first time that a league MVP from the previous season has failed to make the ensuing All-Star roster (admittedly, he hasn’t played as much basketball but he’s still averaging some pretty impressive numbers). DeMarcus Cousins steps in for the injured veteran Kobe Bryant, alongside a glittering array of the finest athletes the Western Conference has to offer – Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin and Marc Gasol in the frontcourt and standout guard Steph Curry will be joined by one other in Bryant’s absence.
For the East, Pau Gasol and Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James line-up alongside guards John Wall and Kyle Lowry of the Raptors. This is not just a spectacle, with acted out roles worthy of a Hollywood script and showboating for the fans… the players want this. This game matters. Just ask Kyrie Irving, winner of last year’s All-Star MVP award.
The game is not the only attraction though – fans are treated to the infamous dunk contest and 3-pointer competition where players can show off their skills as part of an entire weekend of All-Star action. Before the pros get to work in these events, the All-Star weekend kicks off with the celebrity game.
A little bit of Hollywood will be provided by legendary director Spike Lee, who will direct the likes of Kevin Hart, Common, Anthony Anderson and Mo’ne Davis – but instead of on a movie set, it will be on the basketball court. You can expect to see some thrilling basketball, some awe-inspiring dunks, more celebrities than you can shake a stick at and some compelling family entertainment.
You can catch it all live from New York City, culminating in the main event on Monday, on ESPN.
