This article is part of our 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend series.
With the Rising Stars Challenge and ever-enthralling Celebrity Game in the rear-view, the focus shifts toward the most exciting night of All-Star Weekend.The All-Star Game, itself, may be the hallmark event of the weekend, but All-Star Saturday Night has produced some of the most memorable moments in All-Star history. From Julius Erving to Vince Carter to Zach LaVine, a number of participants have used Saturday Night to solidify their place in All-Star lore.
This year, the Skills Challenge and Three-Point Shootout are stocked with premier talent, while the Slam Dunk Contest features two familiar names (Aaron Gordon, DeAndre Jordan), as well as two relative unknowns (Derrick Jones, Jr., Glenn Robinson III).
Below, you'll find the field for each competition, the Vegas odds, and an official prediction.
Skills Challenge
Participants:
Devin Booker, Phoenix
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento
Anthony Davis, New Orleans
Nikola Jokic, Denver
Gordon Hayward, Utah
Kristaps Porzingis, New York
Isaiah Thomas, Boston
John Wall, Washington
VEGAS ODDS
Isaiah Thomas +200
John Wall +225
Devin Booker +400
Gordon Hayward +800
Anthony Davis +1000
Kristaps Porzingis +1200
DeMarcus Cousins +1400
Nikola Jokic +1400
PREDICTION: Booker. The Skills Challenge ultimately boils down to being able to complete a chest pass and make a three-pointer. The pass is difficult to predict, but I'll give Booker the best chance to hit the three on his first attempt. I love All-Star Weekend, but this event is easily the low point of Saturday night.
Three-Point Shootout
Participants:
Eric Gordon, Houston
2016-17 made three-pointers: 184 (4th in NBA)
2016-17 3PT%: 38.5
Experience: First contest
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland
2016-17 made three-pointers: 118 (21st)
2016-17 3PT%: 38.9
Experience: Fourth contest -- 2013 champion
Kyle Lowry, Toronto
2016-17 made three-pointers: 185 (3rd)
2016-17 3PT%: 41.7
Experience: Second contest
Wesley Matthews, Dallas
2016-17 made three-pointers: 144 (12th)
2016-17 3PT%: 38.1
Experience: Second contest
C.J. McCollum, Portland
2016-17 made three-pointers: 138 (14th)
2016-17 3PT%: 41.1
Experience: Second contest
Klay Thompson, Golden State
2016-17 made three-pointers: 182 (5th)
2016-17 3PT%: 42.2
Experience: Third contest -- 2016 champion
Kemba Walker, Charlotte
2016-17 made three-pointers: 149 (8th)
2016-17 3PT%: 39.5
Experience: First contest
Nick Young, L.A. Lakers
2016-17 made three-pointers: 147 (10th)
2016-17 3PT%: 41.3
Experience: First contest
VEGAS ODDS
Thompson +110
Irving +400
McCollum +700
Lowry +900
Gordon +900
Young +900
Walker +1200
Matthews +1200
PREDICTION: Klay Thompson repeats. Statistically, we've been overdue for a repeat for a few years. It's been almost a decade since Jason Kapono -- theJason Kapono -- captured back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. Eight different players have won the last eight contests in what's been an unprecedented run of parity for the three-point shootout.
Prior to this streak, the record for most consecutive contests without a back-to-back winner was only three years. That happened twice:
- Mark Price won in 1993 and 1994, followed by Glen Rice ('95), Tim Legler ('96), and Steve Kerr; Jeff Hornacek then won the next two.
- Peja Stojakovic won in 2002 and 2003, followed by Voshon Leonard ('04), Quentin Richardson ('05), and Dirk Nowitzki ('06); Kapono then won the next two.
So again, we're way overdue. Deep down I'll be pulling for Swaggy P, but bet against Thompson at your own risk.
Slam Dunk Contest
Participants:
Aaron Gordon, Orlando
2016-17 dunks: 44
Experience: Second contest -- 2016 runner-up
Most memorable dunk(s):
Derrick Jones, Jr., Phoenix
2016-17 dunks: 3
Experience: First contest
Most memorable dunk(s):
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers
2016-17 dunks: 165 (1st in NBA)
Experience: First contest
Most memorable dunk(s):
Glenn Robinson III, Indiana
2016-17 dunks: 17
Experience: First contest
Most memorable dunk(s):
VEGAS ODDS
Gordon -150
Jones +120
Robinson III +750
Jordan +1100
PREDICTION: Aaron Gordon. Gordon put on what was inarguably the greatest losing effort in dunk contest history last year in Toronto, falling just short of reigning, two-time champion Zach LaVine in the final round. While LaVine put on a show for the ages, Gordon threw down the most memorable dunk of the night, and his performance would have easily won just about any other dunk contest since the event's inception in the mid-70s.
For Gordon, the biggest question might be whether he'll be able to top last year. Expectations will (justifiably) be high and, fair or not, his dunks will be judged against last year's, which could either help or hurt his chances.
