NBA All-Star Weekend 2013: Conferences prepare to do battle in Houston

For the first time since 2006, NBA All-Star Weekend will take place in Houston. The biggest change to the festivities will come on Saturday night, when the two conferences will now compete against each other in the skills challenges.

The rosters for the game itself feature a blend of the league's old and new stars. There is, of course, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Joining them will be Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Last time All-Star weekend was in Houston, James took home the MVP as the East defeated the West, 122-120.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Feb. 15:

Sprint Celebrity Game , 7 p.m., ESPN

Participants: Kevin Hart ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"), Ne-Yo (R&B/pop); Nick Cannon ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"); Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games); Trey Songz (R&B Singer/Actor); Usain Bolt (Olympic gold medal sprinter); Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education); Terrence Jenkins ("E! News," Anchor); Common (Rapper/Actor); John Schriffen (ABC News Correspondent); Ryen Russillo (ESPN Host); NBA Legends Dikembe Mutombo (eight-time NBA All-Star), Clyde Drexler (ten-time NBA All-Star), Sean Elliott (two-time NBA All-Star), and Bruce Bowen (NBA legend); WNBA stars Tamika Catchings ( Indiana Fever) and Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx).

BBVA Rising Stars Challenge , 9 p.m., TNT

Participants:

TEAM SHAQ: Damian Lillard (Portland), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Andre Drummond (Detroit), Klay Thompson (Golden State), Harrison Barnes (Golden State), Chandler Parsons (Houston), Dion Waiters (Cleveland), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte), Tyler Zeller (Cleveland), Kemba Walker (Charlotte)

TEAM CHUCK: Anthony Davis (New Orlenas), Kenneth Faried (Denver), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Bradley Beal (Washington), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Nikola Vucevic (Orlando), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento), Alexey Shved (Minnesota)

Saturday Feb. 16:

NBA All-Star Saturday Night, 8:30 p.m., TNT

2013 Sears Shooting Stars participants:

NBA players: James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Brook Lopez, Chris Bosh

WNBA players: Maya Moore, Tina Thompson, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings

NBA legends: Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Mugsy Bogues, Dominique Wilkins

2013 Taco Bell Skills Challenge participants:

Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Jeff Teague (Atlanta) , Tony Parker (San Antonio), Damian Lillard (Portland), Jeremy Lin (Houston)

2013 Foot Locker Three-Point Contest participants:

Paul George (Indiana), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Steve Novak (New York), Ryan Anderson (New Orleans), Matt Bonner (San Antonio), Stephen Curry (Golden State)

2013 Sprite Slam Dunk participants:

Gerald Green (Indiana), Terrence Ross (Toronto), James White (New York), Eric Bledsoe (L.A. Clippers), Jeremy Evans (Utah), Kenneth Faried (Denver)

Sunday Feb. 17:

NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia, 8 p.m., TNT

Participants:

WEST: Chris Paul* (Los Angeles Clippers), Kobe Bryant* (Los Angeles Lakers), Blake Griffin* (Los Angeles Clippers), Kevin Durant* (Oklahoma City), Dwight Howard* (Los Angeles Lakers), LaMarcus Aldrigde (Portland), Tim Duncan (San Antonio), James Harden (Houston), David Lee (Golden State), Tony Parker (San Antonio), Zach Randolph (Memphis), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)

EAST: Dwyane Wade* (Miami), LeBron James* (Miami), Carmelo Anthony* (New York), Kevin Garnett* (Boston), Chris Bosh (Miami), Tyson Chandler (New York), Luol Deng (Chicago), Paul George (Indiana), Jrue Holida (Philadelphia), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Brook Lopez (Brooklyn), Joakim Noah (Chicago)

*denotes starter