Damian Lillard has an extremely busy weekend on both sides of San Francisco Bay, on and off the court.
The Oakland native is making his ninth All-Star Game appearance on Sunday, February 16, in San Francisco, and the meaning runs deep for the Milwaukee Bucks’ veteran guard.
Lillard will aim to defend his three-point shootout title Saturday while also spending time in his old stomping grounds, including Thursday’s visit to Oakland High School, which he attended.
“They knew I was good at basketball but none of this was expected,” Lillard said at the school. “So, when I kind of think back on it, I always remind myself of how important the journey is. Everybody will look at where I am now but when I think about the moments in the journey, that’s what gives me chills sometimes about how it all happened.
“… It’s always a great experience when I get to come back home.”
Lillard, who earned his first seven All-Star selections with the Portland Trail Blazers, will be part of the festivities that feature a new game format.
Sunday will include a mini-tournament instead of one 48-minute game. There will be two semifinal contests to decide which two teams advance to the championship game. The winners then meet for the title.
In all three games, the winner will be the first team to score 40 points.
Longtime Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry said the new format is worth undertaking.
“It’s OK to change and try new things, knowing the energy around the (All-Star) Game had kind of dwindled over the last couple years,” Curry said.
As for the teams, the 24 All-Stars are split into three eight-player squads captained by former NBA players and current TNT studio hosts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith.
The fourth squad will be determined Friday night when first- and second-year NBA players and G League standouts compete in their own tournament. The winning team of that derby will be headed by former WNBA star Candace Parker, who also works for TNT.
Lillard is a member of Team Shaq, which includes 21-time All-Star LeBron James, Curry, and Kevin Durant. Anthony Davis (adductor) was replaced on the team by Kyrie Irving.
Team Chuck features three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous Alexander and first-time All-Star Victor Wembanyama. Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) was replaced by Trae Young.
Team Kenny includes elite gunners Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson as well as all-around force Jaren Jackson Jr.
Team Chuck and Team Kenny will meet in the first semifinal, while Team Shaq will oppose Team Candace in the second semi.
One of the players happy to be playing in Sunday’s game is 15-time All-Star Durant, who played with Curry on the Golden State Warriors from 2016-2019. The Warriors won two NBA titles in his three seasons.
“I’ve been saying this since I left here, this is always going to be a part of my DNA, this is in my blood,” Durant said of the Bay Area. “Finally somebody’s listening to me but it always felt like home. Since I left here it’s always been that.”
Curry, an 11-time All-Star, also figures to enjoy the spotlight as he attempts to splash down some three-pointers on the bay front.
“To be able to put the Bay Area on the stage is a big deal,” Curry said. “I’ve spent 16 years out there and the All-Star Weekend hasn’t been out here since 2000.”
While James, Durant and Curry represent the old guard, one of the best bets to become an All-Star staple is the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
“I’m trying to be the best professional, not take shortcuts, not take the easy route just because it’s easy,” the 21-year-old Wembanyama said. “I expect myself to hold the standards, day to day, week to week.”
Stephon Castle, Team C prevail in NBA Rising Stars event
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle produced 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists while leading Team C to a 25-14 win over Team G League in the championship game of the NBA Rising Stars event on Friday, February 14, in San Francisco.
Team C, also featuring the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, the Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George, the Phoenix Suns’ Ryan Dunn and the Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis, earned a spot in the All-Star Game tournament Sunday night.
Castle hit 5-of-8 shots from the floor in the decisive Friday contest. George hit a three-pointer to give Team C the victory by reaching the target score.
Earlier in the evening, Team C beat Team T, 40-34, in the semifinals behind 10 points from George plus 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists from Knecht. The Toronto Raptors’ Gradey Dick paced Team T with 12 points.
In the other semifinal, Team G League got past Team M, 40-39, when Bryce McGowens sank a game-ending three-pointer.
Leonard Miller, a Minnesota Timberwolves prospect representing the Iowa Wolves, scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. McGowens, who has played this season for the Portland Trail Blazers and their G League affiliate, Rip City Remix, put up 12 points.
On Sunday, Team C will play in the second semifinal against Team Shaq, which features the Lakers’ LeBron James, the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and the Suns’ Kevin Durant.
In the first All-Star semifinal, Team Chuck, headed by the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous Alexander, will oppose Team Kenny, led by the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson. – Rappler.com