Full 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend itinerary

Full listing of events, times and participants for 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend

Russell Westbrook and Paul George are headed home to LA to  participate in this weekend’s 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend. Here’s the complete roundup of events, participants, times and TV coverage.

NBA 2018 All-Star Weekend Itinerary:

Friday, February 16:

Media interviews Technically the media interviews are scheduled for Saturday. However, like last season participants will likely all arrive Thursday evening or early Friday, so subsequently the media throng in LA will begin interviews. No doubt NBA TV will feature sound bites throughout the day. (Westbrook and George participating)

Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Practice –  12:30 p.m, NBA TV

All-Star Celebrity Game (presented by Ruffles) – 7:00 p.m. on ESPN. Once again NBA TV’s The Starters hosts Skeets, Taj, Trey and Lee did not make the team.

What might appease their not being invited to play is one of the Starters favorite video stars (Justin Bieber) is set to play in the event. Also of note, this game will feature a 4-point line entitled “the Ridge”.’

https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/964182718048296961

Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game – 9:00 PM – TNT: For the fourth consecutive year the game will divide world rookies and sophomores versus American rookies and sophomores.

Of note, Lonzo Ball and Malcolm Brogdon replacements on Team USA will be De’Aaron Fox and Taurean Prince.  OKC Thunder has no representatives participating.

World Team:

Bogdan Bogdanovic (Kings), Serbia
Dillon Brooks (Grizzlies), Canada
Joel Embiid (76ers), Cameroon
Buddy Hield (Kings), Bahamas
Lauri Markkanen (Bulls), Finland
Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Canada
Frank Ntilikina (Knicks), Belgium
Domantas Sabonis (Pacers), (born in US) represent Lithuania
Dario Saric (76ers), Croatia
Ben Simmons (76ers), Australia

Team USA:

*Lonzo Ball (Lakers) – Replaced by De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
*Malcolm Brogdon (Bucks)  – Replaced by Taurean Prince (Hawks)
Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
John Collins (Hawks)
Kris Dunn (Bulls)
Brandon Ingram (Lakers)
Kyle Kuzma (Lakers)
Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
Dennis Smith, Jr. (Mavericks)
Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Taurean Prince (Hawks)
De’Aaron Fox (Kings)

*  will not participate due to injury

Jamal Murray was the MVP of the game last season.

Daily NBA TV featured programming – throughout evening before and after events.

Saturday, February 17:

NBA Hall of Fame Announcement at 1:00 p.m. on NBA TV.  Jason Kidd and Steve Nash- are a few of the Association’s former players who’ll learn if they are going to be inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this coming summer.

All-Star Practice and Media Day-2:00 p.m  – NBA TV (Russell Westbrook and Paul George participating) –

Autotrader NBA Tip Off – 6:00 p.m. – TNT

Players Only Shaq & Kobe interview – 7:00 p.m.  NBA TV

Adam Silver Media Availability – 7:00 PM : the NBA Commissioner delivers  his annual address

State Farm All-Star Saturday Night (on TNT) 8:00 p.m – TNT

Taco Bell Skills Challenge – Bigs versus Guards

Big (front court) Participants:

• With the injury to Knicks (and reigning champ) Kristaps Porzingis his replacement is Pistons  – Andre Drummond.
• Sixers superstar – Joel Embiid
• Celtics – Al Horford
• Bulls rookie – Lauri Markkanen

Guard Participants:

• Jazz Rookie of the year candidate Donovan Mitchell was selected to participate, but given he is dunk competition replacement, he has been replaced in this event by Kings guard Buddy Hield.
• Nuggets – Jamal Murray. .
• Nets – Spencer Dinwiddie
• Clippers – Lou Williams

JBL Three Point Competition:

• Paul George (OKC Thunder)
• Klay Thompson (Warriors)
• Wayne Ellington (Heat)
• Last season’s champion Eric Gordon (Rockets)
• Kyle Lowry makes (Raptors )
•  Bradley Beal (Wizards)
• Tobias Harris (Clippers)
• Devin Booker (Suns)

Verizon Slam Dunk Competition:

• Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz is suddenly making the Rookie of the Year at least a conversation. Mitchell replaces Magic Aaron Gordon.
• Former Thunder player, (now Pacers star) Victor Oladipo makes his second appearance in the event.
• Larry Nance Jr. returns to the arena he began his career in prior to the trade to Cleveland.
• Considered the favorite, (though watch for Mitchell to shock) Dennis Smith Jr. of the Mavericks.

Last season’s winner was Glenn Robinson III.

NBA TV will have programming between the events throughout the day and following All-Star Saturday night, Kia presents NBA Game Time 10:30 PM

Sunday, February 18:

NBA Legends Brunch . 1:00 p.m. on NBA TV.  The 19th Annual Legend Brunch offers some of the greatest former players who’ll attend the NBA 2018 All-Star Weekend. The event generally features a special ceremony honoring specific former players.

Various NBA TV programs beginning at 4:00 p.m.:  Programs such as The Starters and the men from Inside the NBA. 

Kumho tire presents NBA G-League All-Star Game 4:30 p.m: the event will be live streamed globally via NBA.com and on the NBA App or Twitch. U.S. fans can also use the ESPN App.  In a new format 13 G-League stars were selected to play against  the Mexico National Team. Rashawn Thomas of the Oklahoma City Blue will participate.

Auto Trader NBA Tip-Off –7:00 p.m –  pregame show – TNT

Kia NBA All-Star Game – 8:00 p.m.

The main event of NBA 2018 All-Star Weekend features 24 players split into two teams. For the first time Team Captains were selected based on top vote recipients from each conference. This resulted in Stephen Curry and LeBron James becoming team captains and selecting their teams via a school yard style pick. Both OKC Thunder players Russell Westbrook and Paul George are part of Team  LeBron.

Fortunately, Westbrook and George avoided the Team LeBron seeming curse as four of James’ selections were felled by injury:

• DeMarcus Cousins
• Kevin Love
• John Wall
• Kristaps Porzingis

Replacements for the injured players are Paul George, Andre Drummond, Goran Dragic and Kemba Walker.

MVP of 2017 game was Anthony Davis.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Inside the NBA Post Game Show – following All-Star Game Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will recap the event and interview the MVP. Additionally, they’ll reflect on highlights of the weekend.

Full Details for each event can be found on NBA official site:

• Celebrity Game
• Rising Stars
• All-Star Saturday Night:
  • Taco Bell Skills Challenge
  • JBL Three-Point Contest
  • Verizon Slam Dunk 
• G League – International Challenge
• 67th All-Star Game

As the NBA 2018 All-Star Weekend wraps up Westbrook and George will join their Thunder teammates to rest for a few days prior to getting in some practice time. The Thunder return to action February, 22 on the road to the Sacramento Kings. 

All times in Eastern Standard Time