The New York Knicks may not have any players competing in the Slam Dunk Contest or the 3-point shooting competition during the All-Star Weekend festivities in Los Angeles, but they will still make their mark in a reintroduced event after a decade-long break. The Shooting Stars competition is set to return, featuring a Knicks team comprised of current All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, alongside team executive and ex-All-Star Allan Houston.
Originally established in 2004 and last held in 2015, the Shooting Stars competition requires teams to tackle shots of varying difficulty from seven different locations around the court. This year, the event will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Each team includes two current NBA players and a “legend,” with the Knicks’ team representing their franchise while also drawing connections through All-Star history, college affiliations, and family ties.
Houston’s experience comes into play as he was part of the last all-New York team to clinch victory in this competition back in 2012, joined by then-Knicks guard Landry Fields and WNBA standout Cappie Pondexter.
Other teams in the event include Team All-Star, featuring Raptor’s Scottie Barnes, Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, and Pistons legend Richard Hamilton; Team Cameron, composed of former Duke players Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Corey Maggette; and Team Harper, featuring Spurs’ Dylan Harper and Celtics’ Ron Harper Jr., alongside their father, Ron Harper Sr.
Saturday night will also showcase the annual Slam Dunk Contest, this year missing defending champion Mac McClung, who opted not to participate after winning the event for three consecutive years. This year’s competitors include promising names like Spurs’ Carter Bryant and Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes.
On the sidelines of the 3-point contest, Brunson previously made two appearances but will not be competing this time around. The field includes notable players like Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, and Jamal Murray. Lillard, a two-time contest winner, is currently sidelined due to a torn Achilles, while Tyler Herro is last year’s titleholder.
Additionally, the All-Star Game will introduce an exciting new format, featuring three teams: two rosters consisting of American players and one international “World” team. Towns, though a New Jersey native, will represent the Dominican Republic in international competitions.
In related news, the Brooklyn Nets showcased rookie Egor Dëmin during the Rising Stars tournament, where he contributed four points in limited action, helping secure a 25-24 victory for his team.
The return of the Shooting Stars competition offers a refreshing element to this All-Star Weekend, highlighting the connection between current players and the rich history of the league. As teams compete for glory in various events, the weekend promises to celebrate the talents and achievements of NBA athletes both past and present.