George Harris
Feb 17, 2024 - 01:10

2024 NBA All-Star Weekend: 3-Point, Dunk, Skills Contests Picks

NBA All-Star 2024 Weekend is coming up, and it's not as exciting as it used to be. But there's still hope!

NBA All-Star Weekend is a highlight on the sporting calendar for many fans, including myself. For my family, it's a tradition to order pizza and wings and settle in for the Saturday night contests. The addition of the "Skills Challenge" in 2003 didn't quite capture my interest, but the nostalgia of the event, particularly the Slam Dunk Contest featuring superstars like Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter, holds a special place in my heart.

However, in recent years, the excitement of NBA All-Star Weekend has waned as players seem less inclined to put on a show for the fans. The absence of top All-Stars in the Slam Dunk contest and rule changes in the 3-Point Contest have contributed to this decline. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to the upcoming events and plan to place some bets on the outcomes.

In the Skills Challenge, the format has changed since 2022 to include shooting, passing, and an obstacle course, with a shootout tiebreaker if necessary. While I initially considered picking Team All-Stars, the juiciest odds and the unpredictable nature of the contest have led me to lean towards Team Pacers as the likely winners.

Moving on to the 3-Point Contest, reigning champion Damian Lillard is favored to win again, but I'm intrigued by the long odds for Karl-Anthony Towns, particularly given his impressive shooting percentages.

In the women's 3-Point Contest, Sabrina Ionescu's record-setting performance in the WNBA contest has caught my attention, but the undeniable prowess of Stephen Curry as a two-time NBA 3-Point champion makes him the clear favorite in my eyes.

Finally, the Slam Dunk Contest features G-League player Mac McClung as the sole non-NBA participant. His standout performance in the previous year's contest and the potential for him to have developed new dunks make him an exciting dark horse pick.

In conclusion, while the landscape of NBA All-Star Weekend has evolved over the years, there's still plenty of anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming events. I'm looking forward to seeing how my bets play out and enjoying the spectacle of the weekend.