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5 things we need to see on NBA All-Star Saturday Night

By Cody Williams

Jan 20, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young (0) reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young (0) reacts after a basket during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA All-Star Saturday Night often offers the most entertainment of the weekend, so what do we need to see in 2017?

The whole of NBA All-Star Weekend offers a full three days worth of fun for fans. Starting with the Rising Stars Challenge all the way through the All-Star Game itself, there’s something every night. However, it’d be dishonest to not say that fans (and likely players as well) have one night that they look forward to more than the rest. That, of course, would be NBA All-Star Saturday Night.

With a full slate that includes the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and the grand finale of the Slam Dunk Contest, of course NBA All-Star Saturday Night is going to be a favorite among everyone. Those are three of the more memorable and potentially historic events of each All-Star Weekend. Naturally putting them all on one night makes that night must-see action.

Even so, not all NBA All-Star Saturday Nights are created equal. We enjoyed an all-timer last year as Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine dueled to the bitter end in the dunk contest, stealing the show. How can Saturday night in New Orleans, LA rival what happened a year ago? These five things happening at All-Star Saturday Night would certainly put it close.

Dec 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during a break in action in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during a break in action in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kristaps Porzingis winning Skills Challenge

Especially given the recent events with Charles Oakley and owner James Dolan, the New York Knicks can often be a chore to watch. That’s the case for a number of reasons of course, but one of the most frustrating aspects is watching how second-year big man Kristaps Porzingis is used. It’s obvious to anyone watching that he should be the focal-point of everything that the Knicks do. Instead, fans are forced to watch Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony dominate the ball largely and Porzingis is then relegated to being a de facto third option.

Luckily, Porzingis will be on display for at least one part of the NBA All-Star Weekend and on Saturday night as he’ll take part in the Skills Challenge. Even with Karl-Anthony Towns winning the whole thing last year, it’s going to be surreal to watch a 7-foot-3 player with the build of Porzingis competing in an event that highlights ball-handling, passing and shooting. They don’t call him a unicorn for nothing, though.

There’s a viable chance that the bigs in the Skills Challenge could go back-to-back with those competing. However, with the singular figure that Porzingis represents, it would be fantastic to see him win it. Not only, again, would it be fantastic to watch a man with his body type and with his size win, but it would be a treat for the fans at home and in house—with the latter likely going wild at the victory.

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