2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Phantom255x]

Rumor: Lakers trying to make a 3rd star a priority during offseason and targets include Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell, or Trae Young

How exactly would they make that happen?  No cap space.  No good draft picks and the best tradable asset they have is Austin Reeves.  That’s not getting you a star.

They'd pretty much have to give up Reaves and like 2-3 others. I'd love to see them do it for Kyrie lol. I'd be surprised if Cleveland accepted a similar package though, I think they'd get better offers unless they absolutely love Reaves that much.

[Goldstar88]

Rookie/Sophmore game with a new format.

Jaden Ivy is fast…

[Goldstar88]

Mathurin putting on a show…

[cman88]

its still funny to me that Doc is coaching the east all-star team and is 3-7 since joining the bucks

[johnnygreen]

I hope Jaylen does well tonight in the dunk contest. I was thinking of what gimmick he could use to get the crowd on his side. What about having Jaylen wear a pair of Reebok Pumps, and just before he performs his first dunk, Dee Brown interrupts him to tell him he has to pump the sneakers first.

Should Jaylen use a gimmick? If yes, what are some other ideas?

[liam]

I hope Jaylen does well tonight in the dunk contest. I was thinking of what gimmick he could use to get the crowd on his side. What about having Jaylen wear a pair of Reebok Pumps, and just before he performs his first dunk, Dee Brown interrupts him to tell him he has to pump the sneakers first.

Should Jaylen use a gimmick? If yes, what are some other ideas?

He could be shot out of a cannon! The All Star weekend is soooooooo lame....

[hpantazo]

I hope Jaylen does well tonight in the dunk contest. I was thinking of what gimmick he could use to get the crowd on his side. What about having Jaylen wear a pair of Reebok Pumps, and just before he performs his first dunk, Dee Brown interrupts him to tell him he has to pump the sneakers first.

Should Jaylen use a gimmick? If yes, what are some other ideas?

I think Jaylen is a smart, creative guy so that should serve him well in the dunk contest. A gimmick is worth it if it's original. I think he can come up with a good one.

[johnnygreen]

I hope Jaylen does well tonight in the dunk contest. I was thinking of what gimmick he could use to get the crowd on his side. What about having Jaylen wear a pair of Reebok Pumps, and just before he performs his first dunk, Dee Brown interrupts him to tell him he has to pump the sneakers first.

Should Jaylen use a gimmick? If yes, what are some other ideas?

He could be shot out of a cannon! The All Star weekend is soooooooo lame....

I agree the All Star weekend has lost its luster. However, I have to give Jaylen a ton of credit for putting himself out there in the dunk contest.

[Phantom255x]

With the Dunk contest, I really don't see why guys like Zion, Ant, etc. don't participate in it. It'd be box office. I'm happy to see Jaylen doing it, it's nice to have a real star there and not some 2nd or 3rd stringer most people probably haven't heard of

[Moranis]

I wonder if Vince Carter can still jump well. I'd love to see someone like him in the dunk contest.  You know a guy that was an awesome athlete who is now retires.  Can he still do it

[bdm860]

With the Dunk contest, I really don't see why guys like Zion, Ant, etc. don't participate in it. It'd be box office. I'm happy to see Jaylen doing it, it's nice to have a real star there and not some 2nd or 3rd stringer most people probably haven't heard of

The best thing to happen would be for Jaylen to win it and then talk trash about it.  "A lot of these stars are too scared to do the dunk contest.  When was the last time you saw an All-NBA All-Star in the dunk contest?  The fans have been waiting 20 years to see a star like LeBron do the dunk contest,  the last few years they've been asking 'where's Zion?', so I thought I'd try to lead by example and give the fans what they want."

Looking it up, it looks like the last active all-star and/or All-NBA players to partipate were:

'18 Oladipo (All-Star, All-NBA 3rd team), he finished 4th (last place).
'16 Drummond (All-Star, All-NBA 3rd team), he finished 3rd.
'14 Wall (All-Star), Lillard (All-Star, All-NBA 3rd team), George (All-Star, All-NBA 3rd) were all in it (Wall and George's team, beat Lillard's).
'11 Blake Griffin (All-Star), won it.

All those guys were young (<=23) and on their rookie contracts (except for Oladipo who was 25 and first out of rookie deal).  I do miss the 80's aura where it seemed like the bigger and more seasoned stars like Jordan, Dominique, Drexler, Nance, Erving, Chambers regularly and repeatedly mixed it up with some lesser known players (even if those dunk contests appear weak now watching them back).

[Neurotic Guy]

With the Dunk contest, I really don't see why guys like Zion, Ant, etc. don't participate in it. It'd be box office. I'm happy to see Jaylen doing it, it's nice to have a real star there and not some 2nd or 3rd stringer most people probably haven't heard of

The best thing to happen would be for Jaylen to win it and then talk trash about it.  "A lot of these stars are too scared to do the dunk contest.  When was the last time you saw an All-NBA All-Star in the dunk contest?  The fans have been waiting 20 years to see a star like LeBron do the dunk contest,  the last few years they've been asking 'where's Zion?', so I thought I'd try to lead by example and give the fans what they want."

Maybe I’ll work up some interest in watching tonight given that it’s Jaylen. I think the last time I had any real interest in any all-star event, including the game, was Bird in the 3-point contest.  With my wife away this weekend and no Celtics game I’m hoping to find a good movie or maybe continue my current book. If not, maybe I’ll give JB a look. 

[Donoghus]

Came to the realization this morning that Dee Brown was 33 years ago.

Where the hell did time go?

[hpantazo]

With the Dunk contest, I really don't see why guys like Zion, Ant, etc. don't participate in it. It'd be box office. I'm happy to see Jaylen doing it, it's nice to have a real star there and not some 2nd or 3rd stringer most people probably haven't heard of

Agreed. The all-star weekend events should be for the best of the best to participate in. Fans have missed out with not having guys like Lebron , Zion, etc. compete in these events. Guys like Steph Curry should also be in the 3 point contest each year. It's up to the league to provide the motivation to make it happen. They would certainly benefit from the ratings.

Big credit to Steph Curry though for going against Sabrina tonight it a 3 pt shootout.

[Who]

With the Dunk contest, I really don't see why guys like Zion, Ant, etc. don't participate in it. It'd be box office. I'm happy to see Jaylen doing it, it's nice to have a real star there and not some 2nd or 3rd stringer most people probably haven't heard of

Ego. Don't want to lose.