An ALL STARS weekend

The trade deadline is officially over and the entire NBA world was shaken by some crazy trades like Luka Doncic’s to the Lakers or Jimmy Butler’s to Golden State. All eyes are now on the All Star Game, an event that feels like a true recognition for some players.

New format

Like every other year, this weekend will begin with the Rising Star challenge on Friday, where the best NBA rookies and sophomores, as well as the crème de la crème of G-League, will face each other. On Saturday, they’ll make way for famous challenges where skills, 3-pointers and dunk shots will be in the spotlight. On Sunday, it’ll be time for the long-awaited challenge: the All-Stars match.

This year, a whole new format will be taking place. 4 teams of 8 players will fight in a mini tournament where the first team to reach 40 points will win. At the end of the semifinals, both qualified teams will fight in the final to determine which team will be the big champion and who will be the event’s MVP.

Among these 4 teams, 3 of them will be made up of the 24 selected All-Stars and the Rising Star Challenge’s winning team. So we’ll have to wait until Friday to discover this 4th team’s identity. Meanwhile, here are the 3 All Star teams.

Team USA

This first team was formed by the legendary Shaquille O’Neal. The team is exclusively American, and Shaq’s showing his patriotic side. There we can find the GOAT Lebron James, best shooter of all times Stephen Curry, Mavericks’ newbie Anthony Davis, the Jayson Tatum - Jaylen Brown duo, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Damian Lillard.

Team International

The team formed by Charles Barkley is way more cosmopolitan with players from many different countries, from Serbia to Canada. We’re starting off with triple MVP Nikola Jokic, monstrous Giannis Antetokounmpo, rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, but also Pascal Siakam, Donovan Mitchell, Alperen Sengun and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Team New Generation

On Kenny Smith’s side, he selected younger players, with less star power but undeniably representing of the league’s future. We’re starting off with Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards who don’t need any introduction, the very highly drafted Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham, Darius Garland, Jalen Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr and the chef’s special: Tyler Herro who shattered his glass ceiling this season in Jimmy Butler’s absence at Miami Heat.

Due to injury, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Team Barkley) and Anthony Davis (Team Shaq) will be replaced by Trae Young and Kyrie Irving respectively.

This get-together of elites is promising to keep you stuck to the screen the entire night!