NBA All-Star Saturday Night, taking place on Feb. 15 in San Francisco, was a spectacle filled with breathtaking dunks, record-breaking three-pointers and a healthy dose of controversy.
Skills Challenge: Team Spurs gets DQ’d
The Kia Skills Challenge saw a mix of young talent and seasoned veterans. Ultimately, Team Cavaliers, made up of Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell, emerged victorious.
Mobley acknowledged his teammate’s contribution, adding:
“Just leaning on my vet, the OG of it all. I told him I wouldn’t let him down.”
However, the event wasn’t without its drama. Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama of Team Spurs were disqualified for attempting to bend the rules, much to the amusement of the crowd and the frustration of Paul.
Mitchell, who was seen booing Paul for his antics, offered his perspective on the situation.
“If they weren’t disqualified, I think we probably would have just did the same thing to be honest with you. Play to win, I guess.”
3-Point Contest: Herro & Hield’s showdown
The Starry 3-Point Contest showcased the league’s best shooters, with Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro emerging as the champion.
Despite feeling nervous in the first round, Herro found his rhythm in the second and held off a late surge from Golden State Warriors forward Buddy Hield.
Herro described his experience.
“Just happy, enjoying the moment, happy to be here,” Herro said. “I was definitely nervous going into the first round. But I thought I shot it pretty well in the second round, and then Buddy had the chance to tie it at the end. Obviously, a great competition, a bunch of great shooters. Like I said, just happy to be here.”
Hield, notably, tied the record for most points in a single round with 31, a record previously set by his teammate Steph Curry.
Slam Dunk Contest: Mac McClung’s three-peat
NBA G League sensation Mac McClung etched his name in the history books by winning his third consecutive Slam Dunk Contest. His performance featured a near-perfect score in the final round.
McClung’s creativity and athleticism were on full display, leaving the crowd in awe and even drawing praise from Vince Carter, who declared that McClung and his fellow competitors had saved the Slam Dunk Contest.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of McClung’s dunks was the slam he performed in the first round, jumping over a Kia K5 sedan and throwing down a two-handed reverse flush.
Following Carter’s comments, McClung remained humble.
“I definitely don’t think that’s something for me to say,” McClung said. “I appreciate you saying that. I think I was extremely honored to be a part of this weekend. I think the biggest thing is I genuinely love this contest, and I’m very honored to be here and just very appreciative.”
Notable absences and last-minute changes
While NBA All-Star Saturday Night was a success, it was also notable for those who weren’t there. Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark, two of the WNBA’s brightest stars, declined to participate in the ‘NBA vs WNBA 3-point contest.’
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on TikTok @3Noral. For more sports, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
