For the first time ever, the NBA is packing events that typically take place over two nights of All-Star Weekend into one night of action in Atlanta. Our analyst Kevin Pelton is grading all the competitors in the skills challenge, 3-point and slam dunk contests as well as the main event, the 70th All-Star Game.
As a concession to the difficulty of maintaining a bubble to protect players amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the events typically held on Saturday night were held before Sunday's game and scaled back slightly with six participants each instead of the usual eight in the skills challenge and 3-point contest. The dunk contest will be held during halftime with three competitors instead of the usual four.
The All-Star Game itself will be played with the new "target score" format introduced in 2020 that injected more intensity for a thrilling conclusion.
In conjunction with the All-Star Game, the NBA will provide more than $3 million in support to fund scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Direct Relief's Fund for Health Equity.
As always, competitors are graded on their performance, their effort level and their ability to bring creative flair to a night designed for fans watching at home.
3-point contest
Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors
Guard | Grade: A
Results
Winner
Analysis
Because Curry missed the 2020 All-Star Game due to injury, this was the first time he got to take advantage of the longer shots added to the competition last year. Those shots might as well have been made for Curry, who knocked down three of his four deep attempts en route to his second 3-point contest win. In the opening round, Curry made nine straight shots at one point, including the deep attempt, and his score of 31 was the best ever in a round. (Even without the three points for the longer attempt, Curry's score would have tied for second best.) The final round had a bit more drama, but Curry making both long shots and eight of his final 10 attempts allowed him to edge out Conley on the very last money ball.
Mike Conley
Utah Jazz
Guard | Grade: A
Results
Eliminated in championship round
Analysis
Added to the 3-point contest along with his first All-Star Game appearance at the last minute in place of the injured Devin Booker, Conley nearly walked away with the hardware thanks to two impressive rounds. Conley was almost automatic from the top of the key, where he placed his money ball rack, and knocked down all five of his attempts on the final rack both times to set the pace with scores of 28 (tying the highest score in the 2020 contest) and 27. Only Curry could beat those performances.
Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics
Forward | Grade: B
Results
Eliminated in championship round
Analysis
Tatum displayed impressive shot-making in the opening round, when his score of 25 easily got him to the finals. Tatum made at least four of his five attempts on three racks and one of his deep tries. However, Tatum couldn't keep it up in the final round, starting out by going 0-for-5 on the first rack and making just one of five shots on his money ball rack. Tatum's score of 17 tied Brown for the lowest by any competitor.
Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls
Guard | Grade: B-
Results
Eliminated in Round 1
Analysis
LaVine specialized in making the money ball, knocking down his last attempt on three of the four racks. However, he left some points on the table by making three of five shots on his money ball rack as the only competitor to start out with the more valuable shots. His score of 22 was not good enough to move on.
Donovan Mitchell
Utah Jazz
Guard | Grade: B-
Results
Eliminated in Round 1
Analysis
Over the last three racks, Mitchell made four of his five shots each time, including the money ball. Still, a slow start to the round cost Mitchell a chance at making the finals with a score of 22.
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics
Guard | Grade: C-
Results
Eliminated in Round 1
Analysis
Making his first appearance in the 3-point contest, Brown didn't quite look ready, getting a late start to the round. Although he did knock down one of his two attempts from 29 feet, 9 inches, Brown didn't seem to settle in until making four of his five shots on the final rack. That came too late for him to benefit from his money ball rack, on which Brown made only one of five attempts. He finished last among the six competitors with a score of 17.
Skills contest
Domantas Sabonis
Indiana Pacers
Forward | Grade: A
Results
Winner
Analysis
Sabonis, the runner-up in 2020, joined Bam Adebayo, Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns as the fourth big man to win the skills challenge in the six years since they were added to the mix in 2016. Sabonis made it cleanly through the obstacle course each time and, as TNT's Ernie Johnson noted, was more accurate from 3-point range than he typically is in game action. (Sabonis is a 32% career 3-point shooter.) He knocked down his first attempt in each of the first two rounds and got in ahead of Nikola Vucevic when both needed multiple tries in the finals.
Nikola Vucevic
Orlando Magic
Center | Grade: A-
Results
Lost in championship round
Analysis
Having lost his previous skills challenge appearance in the opening round, Vucevic acquitted himself much better this time around, showing proficiency handling the ball and completing the pass during the obstacle course. After making his first 3-point attempt to beat Robert Covington, Vucevic had a bit tougher time with the 3-pointer in this round, which eventually cost him the title.
Chris Paul
Phoenix Suns
Guard | Grade: C-
Results
Lost in Round 2
Analysis
Thanks in part to a bye to the semifinals, Paul was favored to win the competition. In that context, his performance was disappointing. After getting out to an early lead, Paul blew his first layup attempt. He nearly caught Vucevic only to miss all three 3-pointers he attempted, leading to his elimination.
Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks
Guard | Grade: D
Results
Lost in Round 2
Analysis
As the TNT broadcast rightfully called out, Doncic was operating at considerably less than 100% speed during his only round of competition. He was still collecting the ball after his layup when Sabonis knocked down his first 3-point attempt, sparing Doncic from heading back to the court again.
Robert Covington
Portland Trail Blazers
Forward | Grade: C+
Results
Lost in Round 1
Analysis
Wearing the jersey of his alma mater, HBCU Tennessee State, Covington made up ground on Vucevic (who was ahead because Covington missed his first pass) by throwing the ball out ahead instead of dribbling his way up court. Alas, Vucevic making his first 3-point attempt gave Covington no chance to advance.
Julius Randle
New York Knicks
Forward | Grade: C
Results
Lost in Round 1
Analysis
Randle got stuck on the pass after missing his first attempt and was hopelessly behind Sabonis, never getting up a 3-pointer before Sabonis knocked his down.
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