The NBA has unveiled the festivities for its NBA All-Star Saturday, and a familiar face for Toronto fans has been selected to participate.
On Thursday afternoon, just hours before the NBA Trade Deadline window closed, the Association announced the selection for its three annual contests that will take place during the NBA All-Star weekend.
Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes, who was officially selected to his first All-Star game this year as an injury replacement, will reunite with Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey and look to avenge their Rising Stars' Clutch Challenge performance as a part of the Skills Competition.
Skills Competition Participants:
Team All-Stars: Raptors' Barnes, 76ers' Maxey, Hawks' Trae Young
Team Top Picks: Magic's Paolo Banchero, Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama
Team Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Myles Turner
Following the skills competition, Damian Lillard will also get a chance to defend his crown, this time in a different uniform, as he is one of eight participants in this year's 3-Point Contest.
3-Point Contest Participants:
Bucks' Lillard, Bucks' Malik Beasley, Knicks' Jalen Brunson, Pacers' Haliburton, Jazz's Lauri Markkanen, Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell, Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns, Hawks' Young.
Then, for this first time ever, the weekend features a three-point contest between two shooting specialists: Warriors' Stephen Curry and WNBA Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu.
Finally, as is tradition, the Slam Dunk competition closes out the night as 2023 Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung will return to defend his title against an NBA All-Star, a rookie, and a fellow G League member.
Slam Dunk Contest Participants
Celtics' Jaylen Brown, Heat's Jaime Jaquez Jr., Knicks' Jacob Toppin, Magic's McClung
NBA All-Star Saturday will take place on Feb. 17 in Indiana.
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