NBA All-Star Weekend 2015 TV Schedule, Rosters & Preview, Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Shootout & All-Star Game
This weekend is full of nonstop NBA basketball action beginning on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, New York as the NBA All-Star Weekend kicks into high gear, and the game's brightest Latino basketball stars will be a major part of the NBA's mid-winter classic.
All through this weekend of NBA basketball gala action, Latinos will be making their presence felt on the court as superstars such as Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, and more will be in action at this weekend's festivities.
Anthony, who has Puerto Rican roots, was voted by the fans to make his eighth NBA All-Star game, as the Knicks' lone representative at the game ranks fifth in NBA scoring leaders with 24.2 points per game this season.
Barcelona, Spain-born Pau Gasol, who traded in his Los Angeles Lakers gold colors for the red and black of the Chicago Bulls, will be making his fifth All-Star Game, the veteran two-time NBA champion enjoying a renaissance season as he ranks among the league leaders in blocks and rebounds while scoring 18.4 points this season.
Pau's brother, Marc, one of the best defensive players in the league for years, is making his second appearance in the game since his last All-Star game in 2012.
Horford has the Atlanta Hawks in first place in the Eastern Conference standings so far with an outstanding 43-11 record. The young Dominican center has the second most rebounds on the Hawks this season. For the Gasol brothers, basketball runs in the family. For the first time in NBA history, two brothers will be starting in an All-Star game against one another.
With the 2014-15 NBA season more than halfway complete, it's time to have some fun. The annual celebrity game has already been played, and yes, actor Kevin Hart won the MVP for a record fourth time in five years. But now it's time for the NBA players to showcase their talents.
The first event is the Degree Shooting Stars Event. It begins at 8:30 p.m. EST.
This event features four teams with three players on each team shooting from various places on the court. Team Bosh has won the last two years. The team that successfully makes all of their shots, including a half court shot the quickest is the winner. A fun event to watch.
This year's Degree Shooting Stars Competition consists of:
1. Team Bosh: Chris Bosh: Dominique Wilkins, Swin Cash
2. Team Curry: Stephen Curry, Dell Curry, Sue Bird
3. Team Millsap: Paul Millsap, Scottie Pippen, Elena Delle Donne
4. Team Westbrook: Russell Westbrook, Penny Hardaway, Tamika Catchings
The second event is the Sprite Skills Challenge. This event tests everything a guard must possess: passing, shooting, dribbling and speed. The player that goes through the obstacle course the fastest is crowned champion.
This year's Skills Challenge consists of:
1. Patrick Beverley
2. Trey Burke
3. Brandon Knight
4. Kyle Lowry
5. Elfrid Payton
6. Dennis Schröder
7. Jeff Teague
8. Isaiah Thomas
After that the three point shooters take center stage.
If you're a fan of perimeter shooting, this is must watch television for you. Make no mistake about it, the 3-point shootout is going to be the best event this year. Stephen Curry and Kyle Korver are widely regarded as the best shooters in the game, but Marco Belinelli is the defending champion. Belinelli defeated Korver and Curry last year in a thrilling tie-breaker.
This year's Three Point Shooting Competition consists of:
1. Marco Belinelli
2. Stephen Curry
3. James Harden
4. Kyrie Irving
5. Kyle Korver
6. Wesley Matthews
7. J.J. Redick
8. Klay Thompson
And then the final event of Saturday is the Slam Dunk Contest. Once the most exciting competition but now not so much. Various players will show off their skills and be judged based on the best and most unique slam dunk.
This year's Slam Dunk Contest consists of:
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Zach LaVine
3. Victor Oladipo
4. Mason Plumlee
The very next day, the best NBA players will compete in the annual All-Star Game. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden at 8:30 p.m. EST on TNT. This year's roster features some very prominent Latino players such as Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony and Al Horford.
Horford has the Atlanta Hawks in first place in the Eastern Conference standings so far with an outstanding 43-11 record. The young Dominican center has the second most rebounds on the Hawks this season. For the Gasol brothers, basketball runs in the family. For the first time in NBA history, two brothers will be starting in an All-Star game against one another.
For a full list of NBA All-Star Rosters, see below:
East Starters
Guard: John Wall
Guard: Kyle Lowry
Forward: Pau Gasol
Forward: LeBron James
Forward: Carmelo Anthony
East Reserves
Guard: Jimmy Butler
Guard: Jeff Teague
Forward: Paul Millsap
Center: Al Horford
Forward: Chris Bosh
Guard: Kyrie Irving
West Starters
Guard: Stephen Curry
Guard: DeMarcus Cousins
Forward: Anthony Davis
Forward: Blake Griffin
Center: Marc Gasol
West Reserves
Guard: James Harden
Guard: Russell Westbrook
Forward: Kevin Durant
Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Forward: Tim Duncan
Guard: Klay Thompson
Guard: Chris Paul
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