NBA All-Star Saturday night, or Skills Night, is always one of the most interesting events for the more casual basketball fans. While I myself prefer the actual games to the All-Star weekend excitement, the NBA’s All-Star festivities are undoubtedly the most entertaining of the four major North American sports. NBA All-Star Saturday, specifically, is unique in its appeal to anyone, as the athletic feats and skills demonstrated can be appreciated by diehard fans and non-basketball fans alike. Let’s examine the three competitions that will take place this Saturday.
NBA All-Star Saturday Night Preview and Predictions
Skills Challenge
The field: Anthony Davis, C.J. McCollum, DeMarcus Cousins, Draymond Green, Isaiah Thomas, Jordan Clarkson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Patrick Beverley
The favorite: Unclear
The dark-horse: DeMarcus Cousins
The NBA decided to mix things up this year, with four guards and four big men in the Skills Challenge, rather than the usual field consisting of guards only. While Patrick Beverley won the competition last year, Beverley was never expected to win, and there doesn’t appear to be a clear favourite this year. Usually, this competition comes down to whichever player most cares about winning. In this case, I could see DeMarcus Cousins really trying to prove that he can outhustle the guards. Cousins has always had passing and dribbling abilities, and this season he developed three point range. However, as always the case in his life, Isaiah Thomas – Cousins’ former teammate – seems to be overlooked. As one of the most competitive players in the league, and a first time NBA All-Star, Thomas will shine on the big stage and take this title. His excellent shooting and passing skills, along with lightning speed and quickness, don’t hurt his case either.
Predicted winner: Isaiah Thomas
Three-Point Shootout
The field: Chris Bosh, Devin Booker, James Harden, J.J. Redick, Khris Middleton, Klay Thompson, Kyle Lowry, Stephen Curry
The favorite: Stephen Curry
The dark-horse: Devin Booker
Consisting of arguably the three best three point shooters in the league – Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and J.J. Redick – along with several of the other league leaders in three point percentage and makes, the three point contest has the most loaded field of all of the Skills Night competitions, relative to the rest of the NBA. Curry dominated the competition last year, and many already consider him to be the best three point shooter ever. Curry is shooting better on threes from beyond 28 feet than the league average on shots from within three feet. He’s easily going to shatter his own record for three pointers made in a season. This is a historic season for Curry and his Golden State Warriors, and it would be fitting for Curry to win a second consecutive three point crown in the Warriors’ second consecutive season at the top of the standings. I expect Curry to win this competition until he decides to stop competing in it, just like Larry Bird did in his heyday. But watch out for the youngest participant, rookie Devin Booker, whose jumper can only be described as smooth. If it weren’t for Curry, I may have picked Booker to upset the other favourites, Thompson and Redick.
Predicted winner: Stephen Curry
Slam Dunk Contest
The field: Aaron Gordon, Andre Drummond, Will Barton, Zach LaVine
The favorite: Zach LaVine
The dark-horse: Aaron Gordon
I want to pick Aaron Gordon to win this one, I really do. After all, his body type and athleticism compare best to those of Blake Griffin, and he did this in a game earlier this season. I’d say Will Barton has a shot at winning it too, but less so. However, after putting on a show in perhaps the best dunk contest performance since Andre Iguodala and Nate Robinson in 2006, defending champion Zach LaVine is still the obvious favorite to win. Not only that, but LaVine said that he still has more to offer to the contest. If LaVine actually turns his dunking game up a notch, the other competitors will have virtually no chance of pulling off the upset. Even so, Gordon will most likely give LaVine a run for his money, while providing some extra entertainment for the fans.
Predicted winner: Zach LaVine
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