Who in their right mind could have guessed Atlanta would send four players to the All-Star game? Then again, who predicted them atop the Eastern Conference heading into the mid-season break?
They are the Hawks, after all; a perennial middle-of-the-pack squad with just enough talent to stay competitive year after year, albeit without proven leaders. A team that backpedaled into the postseason last year, muddling to a 38-44 record before losing to Indiana in seven games. And now, a reinvigorated franchise that - under second-head coach Mike Budenholzer - is sending a record-tying four All-Star reserves (Paul Millsap, Al Horford, Jeff Teague, and Kyle Korver) to Madison Square Garden.
A team like the Atlanta Hawks is the antithesis of what an All- Star game represents: superstars versus superstars on a grandiose stage. This year is different. This time it's about making All-Stars into superstars.
There will be no Kobe Bryant. Or Dwyane Wade. Blake Griffin is out recovering from staph infections surgery, and Carmelo Anthony may skip the game with knee tendon damage. Of 27 players invited to New York, 17 had previously been selected three or fewer times; twelve are making either their first or second trip.
Second-year point guards John Wall and Stephen Curry defending each other may be the highlight of the weekend. Both average over 17 points per game, at least 1.89 steals per game, and rank among the NBA's assists leaders. The first Golden State Warrior named back-to-back starter since Chris Mullin in the early 90s, Curry narrowly edged LeBron James in total votes to strengthen the league's ever-rising youth movement.
Third-place vote-getter Anthony Davis is only 21 years old and he's already NBA royalty. The freakishly talented power forward got the starting nod over fellow MVP candidate James Harden despite Harden's league-leading 27.7 PPG. If Harden start in Bryant's place, Warriors standout Klay Thompson sure will.
Replacement slots went to youngsters like DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Lillard instead of veterans Dirk Nowitzki and Rajon Rondo who have a combine 16 All-Star appearances between them. Chicago's Jimmy Butler got the nod over oft-injured Derrick Rose, and Toronto's Kyle Lowry, Wade's replacement, starts after waiting nine NBA season for his big break.
This is the future of the NBA, and it's a bright one.
64th NBA All-Star Game
When: Sunday, February 15, 2015
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. EST
Live Stream: TNT Overtime
TV: TNT
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night
When: Saturday, February 14, 2015
Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. EST
Live Stream: TNT Overtime
TV: TNT
Events and Participants:
Degree Shooting Stars
• Team Bosh: Chris Bosh (MIA); Dominique Wilkins (Legend); Swin Cash (New York Liberty)
• Team Curry: Stephen Curry (GS); Dell Curry (Legend); Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
• Team Davis: Anthony Davis (NO); Scottie Pippen (Legend); Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky)
• Team Westbrook: Russell Westbrook (OKC); Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (Legend); Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever)
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Patrick Beverly (HOU), Trey Burke (UT), Jimmy Butler (CHI), Jeff Teague (ATL), Kyle Lowry (TOR), Michael Carter-Williams (PHI), Brandon Knight (MIL), Isaiah Thomas (PHX)
Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
Marco Belinelli (SAS), Stephen Curry (GS), James Harden (HOU), Kyrie Irving (CLE), Kyle Korver (ATL), Wesley Matthews (POR), J.J. Reddick (LAC), Klay Thompson (GS)
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Zach LaVine (MIN), Victor Oladipo (ORL), Mason Plumlee (NJ)
Sprint All-Star Celebrity Game
When: Friday, February 13, 2015
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Tip-off: 7 p.m. EST
Live Stream: WatchESPN
TV: ESPN
Notable Participants:
â— Kevin Hart, actor/comedian
â— Anthony Anderson, actor
â— Common, rapper/ actor
â— Michael Rappaport, actor
â— Nick Cannon, comedian/ TV host
â— Allan Houston, former NBA player
â— Chris Mullin, NBA Hall of Famer
â— Mo'ne Davis, Little League World Series winning pitcher
â— Kristen Ledlow, NBA TV co-host
BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge
When: Friday, February 13, 2015
Tip-off: 9 p.m. EST
Live Stream: TNT Overtime
TV: TNT
Projected Lineups:
United States: Trey Burke (UT), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DET), Michael Carter-Williams (PHI), Zach LaVine (MIN), Shabazz Muhammad (MIN), Nerlens Noel (PHI), Victor Oladipo (ORL), Elfrid Payton (ORL), Mason Plumlee (NJ), Cody Zeller (CHA)
World: Steven Adams (OKC; will not play due to injury) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Bojan Bogdanovic (NJ), Gorgui Dieng (MIN), Dante Exum (UT), Rudy Gobert (UT), Nikola Mirotic (CHI), Jusuf Nurkic (DEN), Kelly Olynyk (BOS), Dennis Schroder (ATL)