NBA’s busy All-Star weekend offers a new look on all levels

The 72nd NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. It seems each year there are new twists to the game and activities during the three-day celebration of the best basketball players in the world. This year is no exception.

Here’s what you need to know. Tipoff for the All-Star Game will be 5 p.m. PST.

All-Star Game twist

Four years ago the NBA decided to have the leading vote-getters in the East and West draft teams from the pool of starters and reserves. LeBron James is 3-0 as a captain and will lead Team LeBron against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s squad for the third consecutive year.

This year’s twist? Instead of drafting their teams a week ahead of time, they’ll do it on the court an hour before tipoff.

Starting in 2020, the All-Star Game format changed with the winner being determined by reaching a target score, which is the leading team’s overall total after three quarters plus 24 points in honor of Kobe Bryant’s jersey number. Each quarter is also a mini-game with the winner claiming a larger portion of money awarded to Team LeBron’s and Team Giannis’ community-based programs of choice. There will be $750,000 available to be dispersed to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Utah (Team LeBron) and Raise the Future (Team Giannis).

Rising Stars tournament

The Friday night contest that used to feature rookies vs. secondyear players, and for a time Team USA vs. Team World, is now a fourteam tournament. Those teams will also be drafted into three squads of seven rookies and sophomore plus a team from the G League.

There will be a two-round, singleelimination tournament with the semifinals played to a target score of 40 points and the championship game played to 25.

Former NBA stars Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Deron Williams will serve as honorary coaches of the three rookie-sophomore teams while Jason Terry will coach the G League squad.

Team Pau: Paolo Banchero, F, Magic; Bennedict Mathurin, F, Pacers; Jaden Ivey, G, Pistons; Scottie Barnes, F, Raptors; Jose Alvarado, G, Pelicans; Keegan Murray, F, Kings; Andrew Nembhard, G, Pacers.

Team Joakim: Evan Mobley, F, Cavaliers; Josh Giddey, G, Thunder; Jalen Williams, G, Thunder; Jeremy Sochan, F, Spurs; Quentin Grimes, G, Knicks; Jabari Smith Jr., F, Rockets; Jalen Duren, C, Pistons.

Team Deron: Franz Wagner, F, Magic; Jalen Green, G, Rockets; Alperen Sengun, C, Rockets; Trey Murphy III, F, Pelicans; AJ Griffin, F, Hawks; Bones Hyland, G, Lakers (Nuggets); Walker Kessler, C, Jazz.

G League: Sidy Cissoko, F, Ignite; Scoot Henderson, G, Ignite; Mojave King, G-F, Ignite; Kenneth Lofton Jr., G, Memphis Hustle; Mac McClung, G, Delaware Blue Coats; Leonard Miller, F-C, Ignite; Scotty Pippen Jr., G, South Bay Lakers.

Next Up?

Making its debut this weekend will be the NBA G League Next Up Game, to be played at noon Sunday at the Huntsman Center. Ten players were selected by a fan vote and the G League chose the other 14.

Iowa Wolves forward Luke Garza was the top vote-getter and will captain one of the 12-player squads. Ignite guard Henderson will captain the other. G League coaches and celebrity assistants will guide the teams after Garza and Henderson draft their teams.

The other players are: Charles Bassey, C, Austin Spurs; Sidy Cissoko, F, Ignite; Sharife Cooper, G, Cleveland Charge; David Duke Jr., G, Long Island Nets; Frank Jackson, G, Salt Lake City Stars; London Johnson, G, Ignite; Carlik Jones, G, Windy City Bulls; Mojave King, G-F, Ignite; Saben Lee, G, Phoenix Suns; Kenneth Lofton Jr., G, Memphis Hustle; Mac McClung, G, Delaware Blue Coats; Eric Mika, C, Ignite; Leonard Miller, F-C, Ignite; Isaiah Mobley, F, Cleveland Charge; Shareef O’Neal, F, Ignite; Scotty Pippen Jr., G, South Bay Lakers; Trevelin Queen, G, Fort Wayne Mad Ants; Neemias Queta, C, Stockton Kings; Babacar Sane, F, Ignite; Gui Santos, F, Santa Cruz Warriors; Zavier Simpson, G, Lakeland Magic; Gabe York, G, Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Showing their skills

Players for the skills competition will be announced this week.

Schedule

(all times PST)

Friday

8 11:30 a.m.: Rising Stars practice (NBA TV)

8 2:30 p.m.: Basketball Hall of Fame news conference (NBA TV)

8 4 p.m.: NBA All-Star celebrity game (ESPN)

8 6 p.m.: Rising Stars tournament (TNT)

Saturday

8 10 a.m.: NBA All-Star practice (NBA TV)

8 1 p.m.: HBCU Classic, Southern University vs. Grambling State (NBA TV, TNT, ESPN2)

8 4 p.m.: Commissioner’s news conference (NBA TV)

8 5 p.m.: All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)

• Skills Challenge

• Three-Point Contest

• Slam Dunk Contest

Sunday

8 10 a.m.: NBA Legends Awards (NBA TV)

8 Noon: NBA G League Next Up Game (NBA TV)

8 4:30 p.m.: All-Star Draft (TNT)

8 5:30 p.m.: 72nd NBA All-Star Game (TNT)