3-point contest, Slam Dunk fest on tap

There are two rounds. In the first, each contestant will get 1:30 and three attempts to complete a dunk. An official will judge whether a dunk is completed or missed, and any props the players use must be approved beforehand by NBA Basketball Operations. In the first round, each contestant will have the chance to complete two dunks. Completed dunks will be given a score between 40 and 50 points. The average of the five judges will be the final score for that dunk. The two dunkers with the highest composite score from the first round will advance to the final round. If there is a tie after the first round, the judges will then vote to pick the advancing dunker.

In the final round, the dunker with the lowest score from the first round will go first. The same scoring rules apply, and the contestant with the higher score will be the champion. In the case of a tie, there will be a one dunk dunk-off. If there is a tie following the dunk-off, the judges will vote to break the tie, as in the tiebreaking scenario from the first round.

• Knicks guard Jalen Brunson
• Pistons guard Cade Cunningham
• Cavaliers guard Darius Garland
• Heat guard Tyler Herro
• Warriors guard Buddy Hield
• Nets forward Cam Johnson
• Bucks guard Damian Lillard
• Clippers guard Norman Powell

• 2024: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2023: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
• 2022: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
• 2021: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
• 2020: Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings
• 2019: Joe Harris, Brooklyn Nets
• 2018: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
• 2017: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
• 2016: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
• 2015: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• 2014: Marco Belinelli, San Antonio Spurs
• 2013: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2012: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
• 2011: James Jones, Miami Heat
• 2010: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
• 2009: Daequan Cook, Miami Heat
• 2008: Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors
• 2007: Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors
• 2006: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
• 2005: Quentin Richardson, Phoenix Suns
• 2004: Voshon Lenard, Denver Nuggets
• 2003: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
• 2002: Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
• 2001: Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2000: Jeff Hornacek, Utah Jazz
• 1998: Jeff Hornacek, Utah Jazz
• 1997: Steve Kerr, Chicago Bulls
• 1996: Tim Legler, Washington Wizards
• 1995: Glen Rice, Miami Heat
• 1994: Mark Price, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 1993: Mark Price, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 1992: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls
• 1991: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls
• 1990: Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls
• 1989: Dale Ellis Seattle SuperSonics
• 1988: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
• 1987: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
• 1986: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

• First place: $60,000
• Second place: $40,000
• Third place: $25,000
• Fourth place: $15,000
• Fifth place: $15,000
• Sixth place: $15,000
• Seventh place: $15,000
• Eighth place: $10,000

Ball racks are stationed at five locations around the 3-point line, and four of the racks contain four orange basketballs and one money ball. The orange basketballs are worth one point, and the money ball, which has to be the last ball shot on each rack, is worth two points. The fifth rack will be an all money-ball rack and each competitor gets to choose where this rack will be among the locations. Each money ball on this rack is worth two points. Two pedestals are placed deeper than the 3-point line, edging closer to the center court logo, and each pedestal holds a white basketball. A made shot from deep range is worth 3 points.

SAN FRANCISCO – The idea of not working NBA All-Star Weekend didn’t register with TNT’s Kenny Smith until a friend asked him a question this week.

“My friend asked, ‘Are you going to come to All-Star Weekend next year?’ Smith told USA TODAY Sports from the green room at Pier 48, down the street from Golden State’s Chase Center. He was preparing to appear with TNT’s popular “Inside the NBA” crew for a show before the Minnesota-Oklahoma City game.

“I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He says, ‘Well, NBC does it after this season.’ When my friend asked me that question, I had never thought about it.” Read the full story here.

Despite the NBA’s best efforts over the last decade to juice up its All-Star Game to a vague level of competitiveness and credibility, it’s hard to see the league’s newest gimmick generating significantly different results this weekend than the Elam Ending or having LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo drafting the teams. 

If that’s the case, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will likely see it as a failure. He has made it clear he wants the All-Star Game to be something other than a glorified pickup run, and the league hopes that this year’s format — dividing players into four teams and having a first-to-40 tournament — will be more satisfying for fans in the arena and more attractive for those watching on television. 

But the real problem with the All-Star Game is not something the NBA can fix with a new format, or even shoveling money into the bank accounts of the players.

The problem is us. Or, to be more precise, the way our collective consumption of the NBA has evolved. Read Dan Wolken’s column here.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants a more competitive All-Star Game. His broadcast partners domestically and globally want a more competitive game. Fans – and their seething, disgusted, and worse, apathetic emails dropped into my inbox – want the same. I, too, prefer a more competitive All-Star Game.

Yet, I am skeptical that there is a long-term solution to making it a better product for the league, its partners and fans. Read Jeff Zillgitt’s column here.

Steph Curry honors Bill Russell with gym renovation and scholarship

Steph Curry kicks off NBA All-Star weekend by renovating and renaming Bill Russell’s high school gym while funding a scholarship in his honor.

Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry is weighing in on the NBA GOAT conversation, sort of.

“A lot of debate but there can only be one GOAT,” Curry shared on social media Saturday during the 74th NBA All-Star Weekend, which returned to the San Francisco, Bay Area for the first time since 2000. Instead of mentioning the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, Curry teased his upcoming film, “Goat.”

Curry released the official movie poster for “Goat,” which is set to hit theaters on Feb. 13, 2026. The release date coincides with the 75th NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles next year. Curry will serve as the producer of the original animated sports comedy, which features an actual goat playing basketball.

“This kid’s got game,” the film’s poster reads.

Carmelo Anthony, Sue Birds finalists for 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class

A group of 17 finalists were announced for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Friday as part of the NBA’s All-Star Game weekend, including former Nuggets and Knicks icon and 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, eight-time All-WNBA point guard Sue Bird, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard and four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore.

The group of finalists was whittled from a list of 95 nominees that were announced in mid-December. Nominees are sorted through six categories: North America, Women’s, Contributor, International, Women’s Veteran and Veteran. Read the full list of finalists here.

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