The NBA’s All-Star Weekend made its way to Utah for the first time since 1993, and there’s no doubt that it was a memorable one.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum set the All-Star Game record for points, putting up 55 in Team Giannis’ 184-175 win over Team LeBron on Sunday night (Feb. 19). The historic performance earned Tatum the All-Star Game MVP as he and Team Giannis ended LeBron James‘ perfect 5-0 record as the game’s captain.
As the other captain, Giannis Antetokounmpo drafted Tatum with his first pick among the starters, pairing him with Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant and Lauri Markkanen. Hilariously, Antetokounmpo originally chose Morant with a reserve pick despite the Memphis guard being a starter.
Giannis selected JA… but he's a starter 🤣 pic.twitter.com/GKQsWR9Tbn
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2023
James, on the other hand, took Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving and also had a hilarious moment during his draft. With only him and Markkanen left to be picked, Jokic got up and walked over to Team LeBron without the team’s captain even saying his name. In a postgame presser, Jokic said that he thought he was the last pick and that was why he got up early.
Jokic refused to be the last pick and just joined LeBron's team 😂pic.twitter.com/1xTUDpZavX
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 20, 2023
Other stars besides Tatum shined in the game, as Mitchell put up 40 points and 10 assists while Jaylen Brown had 35 points to lead Team LeBron, just edging out Irving’s and Embiid’s 32 each. Both team captains played limited minutes, as Antetokounmpo was nursing a wrist injury sustained on Feb. 16 and James hit his hand on the rim going up for a block in the first half.
Here's the play where LeBron James hurt his wrist as he was trying to block this Pascal Siakam shot 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NyoCIuIWh7
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2023
The third was where things started to ramp up, as Tatum, Mitchell and Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard combined to shoot 15-23 from beyond the arc in the quarter to break things open for Team Giannis. Tatum scored 27 of his 55 points in the third, another All-Star record, and went toe-to-toe with his Celtics teammate Brown in a thrilling one vs. one that saw the two trade baskets to end the frame.
Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum ☘️
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/auPSfMXQcw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2023
This year, the All-Star Game received backlash from fans, players and coaches for its lack of competitiveness and defense. Mike Malone, head coach of the Nuggets and Team LeBron, did not mince words when talking about the midseason contest.
“That is the worst basketball game ever played… I don’t know if you can fix it,” he said. “No one got hurt, they put on a show for the fans, but that is a tough game to sit through I’m not going to lie.”
Brown shared the same sentiment, calling the game a “glorified layup line.”
Here’s the video: https://t.co/5RnU4gB7nr pic.twitter.com/n1J0zEW8v2
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 20, 2023
On Saturday (Feb. 18), 76ers guard Mac McClung brought the house down during the dunk contest, scoring a perfect 50 three times on his way to winning the competition. The two-way player, who was just signed to a contract four days before the contest and is known for his viral high school mixtapes that showcased his elite athleticism, made every dunk on the first try and has already said he plans to come back to defend his title.
Every dunk by MAC MCCLUNG in his almost flawless victory at the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest
Tap the glass over 2 people: 50
360 windmill: 49.8
Double Pump Reverse: 50
540!!!: 50And made every dunk on the first try
SHAQ: "He saved the dunk contest" pic.twitter.com/5RGjujUCMU— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 19, 2023
Lillard, who made the game-winning shot for Team Giannis in the All-Star Game, also took home hardware on Saturday by winning the three-point contest over the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Donning a custom jersey from his alma mater, Weber State, Lillard put up 26 points in the final round to win the competition just 30 miles from where he spent those college days.
Dame needed to reach 26 on the final shot to win the #Starry3PT contest 😤
Ice cold.#Starry3PT | #StateFarmSaturday
📺: Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/5Yjt3ffiO8— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2023
With this win, his first in three attempts, Lillard plans to retire from the competition on top.
“I think all the best shooters in the history of our game, most of them have one of these,” Lillard said. “To be in this competition a few times and not have one, I just wanted to get it done at least one time. So I’m happy I got it, now I can retire from it.”
What did you think of this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend? Let us know by leaving a reaction at the bottom of this post or by tweeting us @celebsecrets.
