The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend is in full force as the league’s biggest stars meet in Cleveland.
This year’s edition saw multiple events with new formats — starting with Rising Stars Challenge that took place on Friday night.
Saturday’s action is headlined by three events: the 3-point contest, slam dunk contest and skills challenge.
The Skills Challenge also has a new look. Under the new format, three teams of three players will participate in a four-round competition that tests shooting, passing and dribbling ability.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Alex and Thanasis make up one team. A trio of Cleveland Cavaliers (Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley) are the second squad. Lastly, standout rookies Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham and Josh Giddey will make the third group.
Trae Young and Zach LaVine are the most experienced participants in the 3-point contest, making their second and third appearances, respectively. Desmond Bane, Patty Mills, Karl-Anthony Towns, Fred VanVleet, Luke Kennard and CJ McCollum are first-time participants.
The dunk contest has plenty of fresh faces as Cole Anthony, Jalen Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson make their event debuts. Obi Toppin returns for his second appearance after finishing as the runner-up last year.
Skills Challenge
This recently redesigned challenge saw three teams competing against each other. The team breakdown is as follows:
Antetokounmpos: Giannis, Thanasis and Alex
Cavs: Garland, Allen and Mobley
Rooks: Barnes, Cunningham and Giddey
Here’s how each squad fared:
Antetokounmpos
The Antetokounmpo Bros. were all smiles.
The Antetokounbros take the W in the passing challenge!! pic.twitter.com/5MMP0DSY3m
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 20, 2022
Antetokounmpo brothers ready to go for the Taco Bell Skills Challenge #NBAAllStar #NBAAfrica pic.twitter.com/S2cGDppIUz
— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) February 20, 2022
Thanasis closes out Team Antetokounmpos’ first round in style 😅
Team Cavs is next in #TacoBellSkills on TNT pic.twitter.com/djikHtinJ2
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
Cavs
This trio started strong on their own homecourt.
Headed to the final round on @NBAonTNT!#TacoBellSkills | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/cxIG7gUdTR
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 20, 2022
“This is poetry right here” 🙌
Cavs were in sync during the #TacoBellSkills challenge pic.twitter.com/pGugDBdLCw
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2022
Homecourt Advantage
Team Cavs wins round 1 of the #TacoBellSkills! pic.twitter.com/p4KsNuxOSv
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 20, 2022
HOME TOWN COOKIN’ 🔥@dariusgarland22 | #TacoBellSkills pic.twitter.com/LmMwazlPLJ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 20, 2022
THE ROOK 🔥🔥🔥@evanmobley | #TacoBellSkills pic.twitter.com/0WXNmJit0a
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 20, 2022
Sights and sounds
Dr. J and Spike
Spike Lee, who was also courtside at the HBCU Classic earlier in the day, secured a keepsake from Julius Erving.
🌟 @JuliusErving signs a card for Spike! #StateFarmSaturday #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/B4HXIgNl7Q
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 20, 2022
Making an entrance
From cozy couture to flashy fashion, these stars arrived at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in style.
Ice is in the building! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ndde0VIMkl
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 20, 2022
Ready for the skills challenge. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KVz6fMySEl
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 20, 2022
The bigs are in the building.#NBAAllStar | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/lfjy7zYOTw
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 19, 2022
A lot of skill. A lot of drip.
💧 @CadeCunningham_ 💧 #ULTRADrip | @MichelobULTRA pic.twitter.com/ZrGmVfNNnv
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 20, 2022
he’s here. @KarlTowns x #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/UA7aMrD6yS
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 20, 2022
En route to skills comp @ScottBarnes561 pic.twitter.com/TUjIPUA5Me
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 19, 2022
