This is what we came for. The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend wraps up on Sunday night with the league’s biggest stars facing off in Cleveland. The 71st NBA All-Star Game pits Team LeBron (lead by none other than the Kid from Akron a.k.a LeBron James) against Team Durant (captained by, you guessed it, Kevin Durant) for the second consecutive season.
During halftime, The Association will honor the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team with players from every decade of the league’s existence in attendance for the diamond anniversary.
The 76 players who comprise the anniversary team — including six who are 2022 All-Stars — have combined for 736 All-Star selections and 64 All-Star MVP winners.
This year’s All-Star Weekend has had multiple events with new formats — starting with Rising Stars Challenge that took place on Friday night.
Saturday’s action was headlined by three events: the 3-point contest, slam dunk contest and skills challenge.
The Skills Challenge also had a new look. Under the new format, three teams of three players participated in a four-round competition that tested shooting, passing and dribbling ability.
Read More: NBA All-Star 2022: Grading the dunk, 3-point and skills contests
If you couldn’t be in Cleveland for the festivities this weekend, our updates are basically the next best thing:
Morant takes flight
Ja Morant, everyone. The Memphis Grizzlies star threw down a jam that was better than anything attempted in the dunk contest, er — was ridiculous. Morant’s slam would have been shocking except for the fact he’s being doing this type of absurdity all season long.
Flight 12 cleared for an early departure! 🛫#NBAAllStar on TNT & TBS pic.twitter.com/9PFUYRW2Q9
— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022
Return of the King
LeBron is, in fact, home. King James made things official with his signature chalk toss before tip-off. The crowd was moderately (read: extremely) hyped to see it.
“Some things never change!”
2022 #NBAAllStar live now on TNT & TBS pic.twitter.com/e4TppqP5r5
— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022
Steph basks in the boos
As the rapper Plies once said: “You ain’t doin’ somethin’ right if you ain’t got ’em hatin'” and Stephen Curry has undoubtedly got the Cleveland fans hatin’. After winning three NBA titles over the hometown Cavs, the boos upon introduction feel warranted.
“Thank you” 😂
Steph hearing it from the Cleveland crowd during his intro at #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/zHAkiEkyh2
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 21, 2022
Banana Boat Crew in the building
Some things just feel right, like seeing Carmelo Anthony, James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade together. The famed banana boat-riding friends came together as members of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
From teens to legends, a brotherhood! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/zXbLjQA5tn
— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022
Team LeBron ready to repeat?
#TeamLeBron is ready! 📸
2022 #NBAAllStar Game: 8:00pm/et on TNT & TBS 🌟 pic.twitter.com/caHKKHwaUE
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 20, 2022
Here’s how Saturday night played out:
Obi Toppin was declared the winner, defeating Juan Toscano-Anderson in the final round, 92-69. He became the third New York Knick to earn a first-place finish in the contest.
Meet Obi at the top
Obi Toppin goes through the legs and taps the backboard with the ball to WIN #ATTSlamDunk! 🏆#NBAAllStar #StateFarmSaturday pic.twitter.com/nsf39DHLEk
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
Off the glass.
Through the legs.
Reverse.Obi’s in the #ATTSlamDunk finals!#StateFarmSaturday on TNT pic.twitter.com/UIH9rR7GSP
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
The degree of difficulty here is HIGH for Obi Toppin! #ATTSlamDunk on TNT pic.twitter.com/5tWaxs9lUT
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
An All-Star assist
Cole Anthony throws it down in the timbs 😤#ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/wC8jys5mqt
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2022
Toscano-Anderson, clad in a custom jersey that acknowledged his heritage, performed a windmill over teammate and first-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins as his opening dunk. His 87-point first-round finish allowed him to advance to the final round.
New York state of mind
Those from the Big Apple had another reason to celebrate. Cole Anthony, a New York native, paid homage to his city by accomplishing a dunk contest first — a one-handed jam in Timberland boots.
You can take the man out of N.Y., but you can’t take the N.Y. out of the man.
Juan Toscano-Anderson’s Mexico-themed Warriors jersey and kicks for the dunk contest 🇲🇽🔥 pic.twitter.com/bZjEtKnntn
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 20, 2022
Juan Toscano-Anderson follows up his 44 with a 43.. he’s in the #ATTSlamDunk final!#StateFarmSaturday on TNT pic.twitter.com/3fTFsKvcxZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
Juan Toscano-Anderson windmills over @warriors teammate Andrew Wiggins!#StateFarmSaturday #NBAAllStar #ATTSlamDunk on TNT pic.twitter.com/AWlAozvSrW
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
Rockets rookie stays persistent
After multiple attempts, Jalen Green pulled off an impressive jam.
That was IMPRESSIVE, Jalen Green 🔥#ATTSlamDunk on TNT pic.twitter.com/BtyENlhVEw
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
KAT earns the crown
KAT called himself “one of the best shooting big men of all-time” after winning the contest, and his new hardware certainly supports that claim.
THE BEST SHOOTING BIG MAN EVER!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/I61WPMtimb
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 20, 2022
The most points EVER in a final round.
That man is different.@KarlTowns
Three-Point Champ 🐺 pic.twitter.com/SZTsb0BR0O— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 20, 2022
29 for @KarlTowns!! pic.twitter.com/6rY4zU41nn
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 20, 2022
Ice in his veins
Trae Young‘s last shot attempt lifted him into the final round — showing just why his nickname is “Ice Trae.”
ICE TRAE knocks down his final shot to advance to the #MtnDew3PT finals! #NBAAllStar
Trae, KAT and Kennard compete for the 🏆 on TNT pic.twitter.com/jfrooH7mNZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
This recently redesigned challenge saw three teams competing against each other. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, Alex and Thanasis, made up one team. A trio of Cleveland Cavaliers (Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley) were the second squad. The third group was composed of standout rookies Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham and Josh Giddey
Cavs
This trio capitalized on their homecourt advantage and came out on top.
The #TacoBellSkills champs in their home arena… Team @cavs! 🏆@_bigjayy_ @dariusgarland22 @evanmobley pic.twitter.com/sd0v9MUv95
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
EVAN MOBLEY FROM HALFCOURT TO WIN #TacoBellSkills FOR TEAM CAVS IN CLEVELAND!#StateFarmSaturday #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/TKYL6eiafZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2022
HOME TOWN COOKIN’ 🔥@dariusgarland22 | #TacoBellSkills pic.twitter.com/LmMwazlPLJ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 20, 2022
Rooks
The youngest squad made it to the final round, but fell just short of victory.
Team Rooks advances to the final of #TacoBellSkills pic.twitter.com/ODuX6SBWHR
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 20, 2022
Cade closes the first round at the buzzer! 🚨😎#TacoBellSkills | @CadeCunningham_ pic.twitter.com/rh5saVffUB
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 20, 2022
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
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
