NBA All-Star blog – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Report: Charlotte to host 2017 NBA All-Star weekend

The 2017 NBA All-Star game will reportedly take place in Charlotte

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting:

Charlotte has won a bid to host the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend, the Observer has learned.

A formal announcement is expected on Tuesday, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in attendance at a news conference. Charlotte officials and the Hornets’ organization formally made a bid for the event last summer…

The city agreed last fall to pay for $33.5 million of what will be $40 million in improvements to the arena. The NBA saw those improvements as key to any All-Star bid.

Russell Westbrook wins 2015 All-Star MVP

Russell Westbrook wins 2015 All-Star MVP

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who went nuts in the 2015 NBA All-Star exhibition and won the game’s MVP award:

The Thunder point guard scored 41 points in the Western Conference’s 163-158 victory at the Garden, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk that left Westbrook rubbing his head because he knocked it on the bottom of the backboard. With his final free throw just before the buzzer, Westbrook surpassed Michael Jordan’s 40-point performance in the 1988 game. He couldn’t quite catch Wilt Chamberlain’s 42-point record from 1962.

But clearly, he’s in elite company. The upstaged LeBron James was impressed.

“He’s unbelievable. He’s an unbelievable talent in our league. His motor, his athleticism, his demeanor about how he approaches the game, it’s all great,” said James, who led the East with 30 points. “And it’s great for our league. And he showed that tonight, showcased it on the big stage.”

Jimmy Butler plays limited minutes in 2015 All-Star game

Jimmy Butler plays limited minutes in 2015 All-Star game

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting on Jimmy Butler (Bulls), who played in the 2015 All-Star game but only got limited court time as he’s dealing with an injury:

Butler played only nine minutes and scored six points as he continued to be limited by a right shoulder strain that kept him out of Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Butler said he spoke to Eastern Conference head coach Mike Budenholzer before the game about limiting his minutes and acknowledged that his shoulder felt “all right” after playing for the first time in almost a week.

“I wish I was 100 percent healthy so I could do a lot more,” Butler said. “But it was fun.”

For a player whose career has been defined in large part by his defensive accomplishments, Butler admitted that it was tough to be in a game in which defense was looked down upon.

“A few of my guys was like, ‘Yo, chill. Don’t do all of that,'” Butler said. “So I couldn’t be the player that I am.”

Stephen Curry very happy to win 3-point contest

Stephen Curry very happy to win 3-point contest

The NBA’s three-point contest at All-Star weekend may just be an exhibition that exists purely for fun, but Warriors guard Stephen Curry wanted that championship and was pumped to finally claim it. Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting:

Stephen Curry was so salty about losing in the three-point competition the first three times he participated that he actually reviewed game tape of past winners before entering Saturday night’s competition at the Barclays Center.

After seeing that the majority of those who won before him had approached the ball racks with the right sides of their bodies, the Warriors’ point guard made the adjustment for an epic Three-Point Contest and set an NBA record by putting up 27 points in the championship round.

“I’m very happy right now,” Curry said. “I wanted to win it and get it done. Thankfully, I was able to accomplish that.

“It was a crazy, competitive and high-class field of eight shooters. I think this is the best field that’s ever been in a three-point shootout, so it’s a pretty cool moment for me.”

Gasol vs Gasol in All-Star game tonight

Here’s ESPN Chicago with a look at one of the most interesting storylines heading into tonight’s 2015 All-Star game, that Pau Gasol starts for the East while his brother Marc Gasol starts for the West:

The basketball world is caught up in the Gasol vs. Gasol storyline heading into Sunday night’s All-Star Game.

Even the king.

“I think it’s amazing,” Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James said, in regard to the fact that both Pau and Marc Gasol will be starting in Sunday’s game.

“I think it’s so awesome. I think it’s so cool, for the first time in our history, we see two brothers face off against each other in the All-Star Game. They’re great, both of them, Pau and Marc. They’re unbelievable, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

That seems to be the sentiment around the league. As the Gasol brothers continue to answer questions about their accomplishments from journalists all over the world, especially a crush from Spain that has chronicled their every move, it’s been interesting to listen to other All-Stars’ reactions about what the Gasols have accomplished.

Victor Oladipo scores 22 in Rising Stars loss

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on Magic guard Victor Oladipo, who shot just 8-of-21 for 22 points in a losing effort on All-Star Friday:

The last thing Victor Oladipo expected when he elevated for a layup just four minutes into the Rising Stars Challenge exhibition Friday night was for an opposing player to challenge the shot and commit a hard foul.

But Rudy Gobert jumped for a block attempt, and Gobert’s right arm hit Oladipo so hard that Oladipo lost his balance in midair and — in a split second that had to frighten the Orlando Magic executives inside Barclays Center — fell directly onto his rear end.

“Crazy!” Oladipo exclaimed after Gobert and Giannis Antetokounmpo lifted him off the court.

Oladipo wasn’t hurt, but the moment still jarred him. It jolted him so much that he went on to score 22 points as his U.S. team lost to the World squad 121-112.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope unleashes brickfest in Rising Stars game

Here’s Michigan Live reporting on All-Star Friday night:

Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a tough shooting night and his USA team lost 121-112 to the World team in Friday’s BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.

The game for the NBA’s top rookies and second-year players was played at Barclays Center in New York as part of the All-Star festivities.

Caldwell-Pope, a second-year guard from Georgia, scored eight points on 3-of-15 shooting.

When entering league, LeBron James did expect to participate in NBA Dunk contest

Here’s NBA.com’s Blog reporting on long-running debate about LeBron James and top NBA stars in general tending to avoid entering the league’s Slam Dunk contest:

The list of accomplishments a dozen seasons into his career is longer than LeBron James’ arm — two NBA championships, five trips to The Finals, four MVP awards.

But not one time in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

“When I first came into the league, I expected that I would do it,” James said at Friday’s All-Star Weekend media day. “I did. I did for sure. But it just never happened. I don’t know why. There was times when I wanted to do it and didn’t do it and there was times when I just didn’t really care about it too much. But it definitely would have been pretty cool to do.”

Two-time Slam Dunk champion (1985 and ’90) Dominique Wilkins, who squared off against Michael Jordan and every other big name of his day, doesn’t criticize today’s marquee stars. But Wilkins does admit that he doesn’t understand their reluctance to participate in the event.

Kevin Hart says Russell Westbrook wears pants that are way too tight

Kevin Hart says Russell Westbrook wears pants that are way too tight

Here’s the Oklahoman with a fun item featuring some hard-hitting analysis from funnyguy Kevin Hart about Russell Westbrook’s fashion decisions:

Comedian Kevin Hart jumped on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike on Friday morning, and in one part of his interview with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic was asked about the funniest guys in the NBA.

Hart said he’s spent some time with Thunder All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

“The funniest? I was with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook last night. We had a good time,” Hart said. “Russell had some pants on that I believe made his butt bleed. I’ve never seen jeans tighter in my life.”

Paul Millsap, Elfrid Payton, Dennis Schroder added to All-Star Saturday night

Atlanta Hawks All-Star forward Paul Millsap will replace injured All-Star forward Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans in the Shooting Stars during All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

In addition, Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton will replace the injured Michael Carter-Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers and Hawks guard Dennis Schröder will replace Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls in Saturday night’s Skills Challenge. Butler, an All-Star guard, is resting his strained right shoulder.

Both events will be televised exclusively by TNT, which starts its coverage at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Degree Shooting Stars features four teams composed of one current NBA player, one current WNBA player and an NBA legend competing in a two-round, timed shooting competition. The Skills Challenge, an obstacle-course competition that tests dribbling, passing, agility and shooting skills, showcases a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament format for the first time.

Millsap, one of a record-tying four 2015 All-Stars for Atlanta, is averaging 16.8 points, a team-high 7.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 53 games. The two-time All-Star will be teamed with six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and two-time WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky in the Degree Shooting Stars.

Payton, the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January, leads all rookies in assists (5.7 apg) and ranks second in steals (1.55 spg) to go with 7.9 points in 56 games. His first-round opponent in the eight-player Taco Bell® Skills Challenge will be All-Star guard Jeff Teague of Atlanta.

Schröder, the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, is averaging 8.5 points and 3.5 assists in 52 games for the Hawks. His first-round opponent will be All-Star guard Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors. Schröder and Payton will also play in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 13, at Barclays Center.