OKC Thunder: Everything to know for 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

NBA All-Star weekend 2020 offers plenty of action from your OKC Thunder representatives and other superstars. Here’s a one-stop schedule of events.

As a mass exodus of players descend on trips to take in the sun and get some well deserved rest and relaxation a select few are headed to Chicago. Not quite the same weather for these elite players but it’s an honor to be part of the All-Star Weekend and participate in the games and events. The OKC Thunder have two representatives attending the festivities — Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

In many ways, these two represent everything that is good about the OKC Thunder and embody the direction of the franchise. More than ever before the franchise is based on TEAM and after years of going the ‘superstar’ route perhaps as they say – everything happens for a reason.

Chris Paul is part of Team LeBron in the big event on Sunday but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have a busy weekend in Chicago. First up he’ll play in the Rising Stars Game Friday. As the clock hits midnight SGA will also be one of the participants of the E League NBA 2K20 All-Star Throwdown. The event will benefit charity and also has Zach LaVine, Rudy Gobert, and Cam Reddish participating. The event runs on TBS from midnight through to 1:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander replaces Derrick Rose in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge in the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night.

The following breaks down the schedule of events for the weekend with times (all are listed in Eastern Standard time zone) and where possible the TV affiliate.

Friday, February 14th:

Noon – NBA Rising Stars Practice on (NBA TV). Team USA and Team World both practice in preparation for the event later Friday night. Steve Smith, Dennis Scott, Adam Lefkoe and Jared Greenberg will be on site to provide interviews and commentary

2:00 PM: NBA TV special “City Game: Chicago” Hall of famer Isiah Thomas details the rivalries and rich history of great Chicago players.

2:30 PM: NBA TV coverage. Although the scheduled interviews of the All-Stars is Saturday there will be ad hoc one off interviews of players in Chicago for All-Star Weekend 2020

5:00 PM: NBA The Jump (ESPN)

5:00 PM: The NBA will announce the 2020 Hall of Fame Class inductees (NBA TV) *NOTE: in Canada, this announcement is airing a half hour later at 5:30 p.m.

6:00 PM: The Warmup (NBA TV) – more coverage from NBA analysts with possible insights on Rising Stars Game.

7:00 PM: NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Rapper Common is the captain of the away team and coached by Steven A. Smith. The home team will be coached by Michael Wilbon and captained by Chance the Rapper. Full team rosters are available here. (ESPN or check your local listings)

9:00 PM: NBA Rising Stars Game. OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on Team World. Click here for the full roster list. (TNT or check your local listings)

11:00 PM (or when game completes): Inside the NBA panel will recap highlights from Rising Stars Game and interviews from the day.

Midnight: E League NBA 2K20 All-Star Throwdown (TBS). Full details on the event which is sponsored by Snickers can be found by clicking here.

Saturday, February 15:

10:30 AM: Team LeBron and Team Giannis practice The teams will alternate time on the court in preparation for the big event on Sunday. (NBA TV)

10:30 AM: Media Day presented by AT&T highlights interviews with the stars and commentary from the analysts and run over the course of the day until the next listed program at 7:00 p.m. (NBA TV)

5:00 PM: NBA All-Star Saturday Night preshow (ESPN or check your local listings)

7:00 PM: Commissioner Adam Silver delivers his All-Star address and provides media availability (NBA TV)

8:00 PM: State Farm All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander replaces Derrick Rose in the first event of the night which kicks off the night (likely start time is 9:00 PM but to be safe set your recording devices for 8:00 pm in order to not miss anything. Eight players will participate with two former winners in the mix.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge – for participant list and details of the event click here.

MTN DEW 3-Point Contest – eight players are in the mix for the 3-point sniper event and Devon Booker will replace Damian Lillard. Click here for more intel on the event and list of participants.

AT&T Slam Dunk – although OKC Thunder wing Hamidou Diallo is the reigning champion he will not participate this year. It was reported that Diallo would have the right to defend his title and would make the decision based on his elbow health and advice of doctors. There was never a follow up comment from Diallo or noted publicly so we’re left to assume he isn’t participating in order to be safe as his elbow is still healing.

The four players who are in the contest are Aaron Gordon (who should’ve won in Toronto), Derrick Jones Jr. who has some of the best hops in the NBA, Dwight Howard, and Pat Connaughton. Full details on the event and participants as noted on NBA.com can be found here.

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• 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

10:30 PM: Inside the NBA (NBA TV/TNT or check your local listings)

11:15 PM or after Inside the NBA: NBA Game Time (NBA TV)

Sunday, February 16:

Noon: NBA Legends Brunch (NBA TV although some stations begin later – check your local listings)

12:30 PM: Junior NBA Girls All-Star Invitational (NBA TV)

1:30 PM:  Junior NBA Boys All-Star Invitational (NBA TV)

4:00 PM: NBA All-Star Sunday: coverage leading up to All-Star Game (NBA TV/TNT – or check local listings as some start times vary)

8:00 PM: 69th NBA All-Star Game (TNT). Copious changes are in play this season for how the game will be played with each individual quarter an entity in its own and charitable tie-ins. The final frame will pay homage to Kobe Bryant. For full details on how it works click here for the NBA.com explanation.

11:00 PM: Inside the NBA – the panel recaps the All-Star Game (TNT/NBA TV)

Thunderous Intentions will keep fans up to date on events via recaps of action specifically with an emphasis on Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Make sure to stay connected as the writing team is also focused on how the OKC Thunder and players will be preparing to finish the stretch run.