NBA All-Star Game 2023: Who is participating in the Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge?
By Ian Levy
Who will be looking to make a name for themselves in the Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game?
The NBA All-Star Game has often paled in comparison and cultural relevance to the events of All-Star Saturday night, where the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest are held. Here are the players who will be participating in these athletic showdowns.
2023 Skills Challenge participants
Last year, three teams of three players competed in a new format and that’s what we will see for the Skills Challenge again in 2023. Here’s a look at the teams and players participating to begin Saturday night’s festivities.
- Team Antetokounmpos: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
- Team Jazz: Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton
- Team Rooks: Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith Jr.
The 3-point contest is the first event scheduled for Saturday, February 18 at 5 p.m. ET.
2023 3-Point Contest participants
The 3-Point Contest participants were announced on Tuesday, February 14 and you have to love the field for the shooting display. Here are the eight players competing on Saturday night during All-Star Weekend.
- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
- Tyler Herro (Miami Heat)
- Buddy Hield (Indiana Pacers)
- Kevin Huerter (Sacramento Kings)
- Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
- Anfernee Simons (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
Lillard and Tatum are clearly the biggest names participating in the contest but they might not be the favorites. With the way that we’ve seen players like Hield, Huerter and Simons get hot throughout the season, if that were to happen in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, they could easily be crowned 3-point king.
The 3-point contest is the second event scheduled for Saturday, February 18 and will begin after the Skills Challenge.
2023 Slam Dunk Contest participants
- Jericho Sims (New York Knicks)
- Trey Murphy III (New Orleans Pelicans)
- KJ Martin (Houston Rockets)
- Max McClung (Delaware Blue Coats)
Shaedon Sharpe was once expected to be in the contest after some eye-popping dunks this season, but he was not part of the official announcement.
Martin is the son of Kenyon Martin, one of the in-game greatest dunkers in NBA history and has some dunking chops of his own. And of course, there is McClung, a 6-foot-2 guard who made a name for himself in high school with an unbelievable mixtape. Murphy and Sims round out the field of high-flyers.
The Slam Dunk Contest is scheduled for Saturday, February 18 at 10 p.m. ET.
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