NBA All-Star Weekend 2024: Indy

All-Star Weekend Format

• East vs West
• Traditional four 12-minute quarters

We are back. We are so back. After six years, the NBA has decided to return to the classic East vs. West All-Star game format. The game typically showcases a total of 24 players, evenly distributed across two teams, each consisting of 12 players. The roster is composed of starters and reserves: 10 starters, with five from each conference (East and West), selected through a combination of fan, player, and media voting, and 14 reserves, with seven from each conference, chosen by the coaches of each respective conference.

Since 2018, two captains have been chosen based on votes from three groups: fans, players, and a media panel. Regardless of the conference, the two players with the most votes were selected as captains and would draft all-stars in a pick-up style game. This essentially meant Team LeBron versus whoever else was having a career year between Steph, Giannis, and KD. Team LeBron has won 5 of those 6, solidifying his acumen as LeGM. Additionally, in honor of the late-great Kobe Bryant, there was the 24-point fourth-quarter rule which will now be replaced with the traditional scoring format.

Friday, Feb. 16

NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN
• Watch: ESPN

Celebs and NBA old heads link up to run some of the funniest 5-on-5 basketball you’ll see played on an NBA hardtop. The celebrity game is often a mix of physical comedy, a few nice layups from some old politician who played in college, and the odd dunk from J.Cole. Not every game should be bet on, but if you do, lean towards the team with the most professional basketball experience on it.

NBA Rising Stars

• Time: 9:00 PM ET
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• Watch: TNT

The All-Star Game Lite. The Rising Stars game is just that, the best rookies and sophomores in the league go head-to-head to see who’s up next. The NBA has split this game by draft class and a US vs. World Format… Now, it hasn’t often big very indicative of who is actually going to be making the biggest splashes in the league, but this year, with the likes of Chet Holmgren, Victor Webamyama, and Paolo Banchero all looking to be the next, next face of the league no matter how they divy the teams up, we’re in for a show.

Saturday, Feb. 17

HBCU Classic – Winston-Salem St vs. Virginia Union

• Time: 2:00 PM ET
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• Watch: NBATV / TNT / ESPN2

The NBA has proclaimed it is committed to strengthening its relationship with Historically Black Colleges and Universities by giving a platform and highlighting another two teams to feature in this year’s All-Star Weekend.

State Farm All-Star Saturday Night

• Time: 8:00 PM ET
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium
• Watch: TNT

KIA Skills Challenge – The best playmakers in the NBA run a “skills” course where they get to demonstrate their speed, handle, passing, and scoring ability.

Starry 3-Point Contest – The best shooters in the league face up from three for bragging rights and their name next to some of the greatest shooters to ever do it. It’s a game of runs, usually the most composed shooter hangs around until the final rounds and steals the win off a hot final run.

AT&T Slam Dunk Content – The slam dunk contest may not have that same pull it used to when MJ was taking off from the free throw line, Dwight was Superman-ing or Carter was wiping his elbow off in the rim. However, these players are getting more and more athletic and an inch closer to literally jumping out of the gym each year. We don’t know if he’s in it yet, but i got my lifesaving on Ja Morant.

Sunday, Feb. 18

G-League Up Next Game

• Time: 1:30 PM ET
• Location: Indiana Convention Center
• Watch: NBATV

The G League is the NBA’s developmental league, where players who went undrafted or couldn’t maintain their spot on an NBA roster go to continue improving their game while remaining signable to respective NBA teams. The degrees between separation at the highest levels are smaller than you think, and this game is full of some of the hungriest ballers in the entire world.

73rd NBA All-Star Game

• Time: 8:30 PM ET
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• Watch: TNT

NBA All-Star voting is well underway as we prepare for the main event of all-star weekend, the All-Star Game. Twenty-four players elected as the “best players in the league”, or at least most popular, face off in what’s supposed to be an easygoing showing of premier NBA talent but often upscales into a few intense final minutes of the absolute best, doing what they do best, absolutely. This year’s guaranteed starters seem to be LeBron, KD, and Jokic in the Western frontcourt, supported by Luka and Steph. Followed by Giannis. Embiid and Tatum in the East, and Haliburon+1 in the backcourt.

Our Pick: The West.