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All-Star Weekend has nearly arrived. This year, the NBA will take its show north of the border to Toronto, where in addition to being treated to a healthy dose of high flyers and long-range bombers, NBA fans will also no doubt have myriad clips of Drake shoved down their throats.
The weekend kicks off Friday night with the Celebrity Game. This year, Drake will serve as the coach for a team full of Canadian celebrities, while Kevin Hart will coach Team USA. Friday night's main event is the Rising Stars Game, which features the NBA's best rookies and sophomores. For the second straight season, it will pit a U.S. team against a World team.
Saturday's festivities will look a bit different than they have in years past. The day will start with the D-League All-Star Game. Then, at 8 p.m. ET the new-look Skills Challenge will get underway. The competition this year features four big men in addition to four guards, including defending champion Patrick Beverley.
After that, it will be time for the Three-Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk Contest, the two most anticipated events of the night. In the three-point competition, Stephen Curry will look to defend his belt from last season, and perhaps best his own record of 27 points in a round. In the dunk contest Andre Drummond, Will Barton and Aaron Gordon will be gunning for defending champion Zach LaVine.
The 65th All-Star Game takes place Sunday evening. Coverage will begin 7 p.m. on TNT, with tip-off at 8 p.m. Russell Westbrook is the defending MVP, and there will be two Raptors (Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan) representing their home team. But the story and star of the night will no doubt be Kobe Bryant, who will be playing in his 18th and final All-Star Game.
Schedule and TV
Celebrity Game
Date: Friday, Feb 12
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Place: Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto
TV: ESPN
Online: Watch ESPN
Participants: Team Canada includes Drake, Steve Nash and José Bautista as coaches, with Stephan James, Win Butler, Drew & Jonathan Scott, Milos Raonic, Kris Wu, Tracy McGrady, Rick Fox, Tom Cavanagh, Tammy Sutton-Brown, and Eugenie Bouchard ... Team USA includes Kevin Hart and Becky Hammon as coaches, with Jason Sudeikis, Anthony Anderson, Joel David Moore, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Nick Cannon, Chauncey Billups, Muggsy Bogues, Terrence Jenkins, Marc Lasry, and Elena Delle Donne.
BBVA Rising Stars Challenge
Date: Friday, Feb. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Place: Air Canada Centre
TV: TNT
Online: Watch TNT
Participants: Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, Zach LaVine, Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Jabari Parker, Elfrid Payton, D'Angelo Russell, Marcus Smart, Karl-Anthony Towns ... Clint Capela, Mario Hezonja, Nikola Jokic, Emmanuel Mudiay, Raul Neto, Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Bogan Bogdanovic, Trey Lyles
NBA All-Star Team Practices
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Place: Ricoh Coliseum
TV: NBA TV
Participants: NBA All-Stars
Skills Challenge
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: 8 p.m. ET (First event)
Place: Air Canada Centre
TV: TNT
Online: Watch TNT
Participants: Patrick Beverley (Rockets), DeMarcus Cousins (Kings), Draymond Green (Warriors), Anthony Davis (Pelicans), C.J. McCollum (Blazers), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), Isaiah Thomas (Celtics), Jordan Clarkson (Lakers)
Three-Point Shootout
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: 8 p.m. ET (Second event)
Place: Air Canada Centre
TV: TNT
Online: Watch TNT
Participants: Stephen Curry (Warriors), James Harden (Rockets), Klay Thompson (Warriors), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Kyle Lowry (Raptors), J.J. Redick (Clippers), Chris Bosh (Heat), Devin Booker (Suns)
Slam Dunk Contest
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: 8 p.m. ET (Third event)
Place: Air Canada Centre
TV: TNT
Online: Watch TNT
Participants: Zach LaVine (Timberwolves), Aaron Gordon (Magic), Will Barton (Nuggets), Andre Drummond (Pistons)
NBA D-League All-Star Game
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Place: Ricoh Coliseum
TV: NBA TV
Participants: D-League All Stars
NBA D-League Dunk Contest
Date: Saturday, Feb. 13
Time: Halftime of the D-League All-Star Game.
Place: Ricoh Coliseum
TV: NBA TV
Participants: Jarvis Threatt (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), JP Tokoto (Oklahoma City Blue), DJ Stephens (Canton Charge), Walt Lemon Jr. (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Keifer Sykes (Austin Spurs), John Jordon (Raptors 905)
65th NBA All-Star Game
Date: Sunday, Feb. 14
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Place: Air Canada Centre
TV: TNT
Online: Watch TNT
Participants: NBA All-Stars
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