At the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, current New York Knicks stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson will participate in the revived Shooting Stars event, alongside former Knicks player and executive Allan Houston. This marks the contest’s return after a decade-long absence, taking place Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Despite the Knicks not having any participants in the Slam Dunk or 3-point contests this year, the team maintains a presence through this unique competition.
Format and Teams Competing in the Shooting Stars Challenge
The Shooting Stars contest, first introduced in 2004, involves teams of three players each attempting shots from seven different locations on the court, with each spot carrying various point values depending on difficulty. Four teams will compete, each consisting of two current NBA players and one league veteran legend, representing specific NBA affiliations, All-Star connections, or family ties. The top two teams from the opening round will advance to the final championship round.
The Knicks’ lineup includes All-Stars Brunson and Towns along with Houston, who previously won the event as part of an all-New York team in 2012 alongside former Knick Landry Fields and Cappie Pondexter of the Liberty. Other competing squads include Team All-Star with Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, and Pistons great Richard Hamilton; Team Cameron with Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Corey Maggette; and Team Harper featuring Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., and their father Ron Harper Sr.
Additional All-Star Weekend Competitions and Participants
Saturday’s schedule also features the Slam Dunk Contest, although three-time defending champion Mac McClung is not competing this year. Contestants include Carter Bryant, Jaxson Hayes, Keshad Johnson, and Jase Richardson. Brunson, despite competing in last two years’ 3-point contests, will not participate in the current eight-player 3-point shooting field, which includes players like Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, and Donovan Mitchell.
Damian Lillard, sidelined this season due to an Achilles injury, is a two-time 3-point contest winner from previous years but will not compete. Several notable players such as Knueppel, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Norman Powell, and Bobby Portis complete the 3-point shooting roster for this year.
New Format for Sunday’s All-Star Game and Team Assignments
The highly anticipated All-Star Game on Sunday will feature a fresh format, dividing participants into three teams: two composed of American players and one team representing the World. Karl-Anthony Towns, though born in New Jersey, will join the World team due to his representation of the Dominican Republic in international basketball.
Rookie Representation and Rising Stars Tournament
The Brooklyn Nets showcased rookie Egor Dëmin in Friday night’s Rising Stars tournament. Dëmin, one of Brooklyn’s five first-round picks this year and their selection at No. 8 overall, has appeared in 46 games with an average of 10.8 points and 3.3 assists. He competed on Team Vince, coached by former Nets star Vince Carter.
Significance of the Knicks’ Participation and the Shooting Stars Event’s Return
The involvement of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson in the Shooting Stars event highlights the Knicks’ efforts to maintain visibility during All-Star Weekend despite the absence of their players in the more high-profile dunk and 3-point contests. Allan Houston’s presence adds experience and historical connection, recalling previous Knicks success in this competition. The return of the Shooting Stars contest offers a distinctive format that blends current stars with veterans, engaging fans with a multi-location shooting challenge that tests diverse skills on the court.
Looking ahead, the refreshed All-Star Game format and the inclusion of rising talents like Egor Dëmin suggest evolving traditions in NBA showcase events, balancing established stars and emerging players. For the Knicks, participation in these events serves to emphasize the depth and international ties of their roster, particularly with Towns’ role on the World team, reflecting the global nature of today’s NBA.
