What we’re looking forward to in the NBA All-Star weekend
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It’s NBA All-Star time this weekend, with the Staples Centre in Los Angeles playing host to a hubbub of basketball razzmatazz.
LA is hosting for the first time since 2011, and there is plenty to enjoy during the three-day extravaganza.
So before it all begins, Ladbrokes News runs you through the things to look forward to…
Celebrity Game
Friday night features the Celebrity Team, where a mish-mash Team Lakers takes on a similarly eclectic Team Clippers.
Entourage star Jerry Ferrara, TV personality Nick Cannon and NBA Legend Tracy McGrady are some of the headline names for the Lakers.
Over on the Clippers’ roster, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx will team-up with Olympic sprinter Andre de Grasse, two-time Major winner Bubba Watson and Arcade Fire musician Win Butler.
Skills challenge
The skills challenge is one of the highlights of the weekend. Simply put, it pitches NBA players up against each other in a test of their talent.
It’s against the clock too, and whoever completes the course quickest is the winner. New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis won last year and is back to defend his title.
Five up-and-coming players take part this year, so watch out for tricks, leaps and dunks aplenty.
Three-point contest
Eight players will take on the three-point contest, and previous winners have included Steph Curry, Dirk Nowitzki and Larry Bird.
Players get 60 seconds to net as many three-pointers as they can from five spots around the court. It’s simple, it’s straight-forward, it’s brilliant.
Slam Dunk contest
But many would argue the Slam Dunk contest trumps the lot.
It dates back to 1976 and has undergone a few changes down the years, but it remains a classic staple of the All-Star weekend.
All-Star game
The headline event is underdoing a revamped format for 2018.
It’s no longer about West versus East. Fans, media and players cast their votes to decide the line-ups.
LeBron James and Steph Curry were the most popular picks, and are the captains for this year’s teams.
Team Curry boasts James Harden and Kevin Durant, but Team LeBron are the 20/29 favourites.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
