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Whether it was legends returning, young guns balling out, or new faces making their mark, this year’s All-Star weekend lived up to the hype. Let’s break down all the action 🤩🌟

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Coby White, Kelly Tripucka, and Tosan Evbuomwan! 🎉

Game Recaps

Ant’s MVP performance fuels Team USA Stars to ASG win

This year’s All-Star game gave us a format we’ve never seen before, and fittingly, the results were unforgettable.

In the new USA vs. World format, two teams of American-born hoopers faced off with one squad of international stars in a round-robin style tournament. With a bit of patriotic pride on the line, the system produced tight matchups and some of the best effort we’ve seen from the game in years, including some major heart from Wemby.

In the end, it was Team USA Stars, the younger of the two American teams, bringing home the W. Anthony Edwards led the way, scoring 32 PTS across three games including 13 in Team Stars’ OT 37-35 victory over Team World.

There were all kinds of memorable moments in this year’s ASG, so let’s run through some of the best:

• Ant may have brought home MVP, but Kawhi had undoubtedly the best single-game performance of the night, racking up 31 of Team Stripes’ 48 points in their win over Team World. From the middy to the step-back, Leonard’s jumper was stuck on automatic.

• In a new format, there’s bound to be a learning curve. Scottie Barnes figured that out in the best way possible, hitting a game-winner for Team Stars… that he only realized was a game-winner after the fact.

• De’Aaron Fox was the last addition to the All-Star pool, but he also had the last word in Team Stripes’ 42-40 first round victory over Team Stars. Swipa was cool as ice with the game on the line, sending Cade flying with a pump-fake then nailing the go-ahead triple.

• The stars showed out at the Intuit Dome, from Ludacris and Vin Diesel to 2 Chainz and the Obamas. These celebs are fellow Enjoyers of basketball!

• Last year, Jokic couldn’t believe Wemby brought a book to read before the ASG. This year, two of the league’s best big men continued their friendly banter. “Of course I [brought a book.] You didn’t?” 🤣

Dame wins 3-Point Contest in return from torn Achilles

No NBA action this season? No problem for Damian Lillard.

On Saturday night, one of the league’s greatest shooters ever proved that touch from beyond the arc is like riding a bike, taking home the 3-Point contest title despite not playing in an NBA game since tearing his Achilles in April. Lillard’s third win in the contest puts him in rare air— only Larry Bird and Craig Hodges had previously claimed the crown that many times.

Dame’s score of 29 PTS in the final round helped him eek past two major challengers: Devin Booker scored a contest-high 30 PTS in the first round and seemed to have the contest wrapped up in the second as he reached 27 PTS with three money-balls remaining, but misses on all three left him empty-handed. Rookie Kon Knueppel also tied Dame in the first round with 27 PTS before finishing with 17 in the finals.

One other player — Voshon Lenard in 2005 — had previously competed in the 3-Point contest without playing that season. Lenard won the contest in ‘04 and returned to defend his title, but came up short, meaning Dame is the first to ever take home the chip before his full-time return. Welcome back, superstar!

Elsewhere around the ASG:

• Turns out, Heat rises. Miami’s Keshad Johnson introduced himself to NBA fans everywhere, bringing home the Dunk Contest title with a gnarly windmill slam. Johnson defeated San Antonio’s Carter Bryant in the final round, who notched the only 50 of the evening with a ludicrous Eastbay jam.

• We already knew VJ Edgecombe was one of the league’s most promising young players, but his performance in the Rising Stars Challenge further cemented his status. The Sixers’ All-World rookie led Team Vince Carter in scoring and connected on a pair of free throws to clinch their W over Team Melo. Plus, the young guys were all giving it their all!

• The Shooting Stars competition made its return to the weekend after an 11-year hiatus, and as far as where the trophy’s headed, it’s New York or Nowhere. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and retired Knicks legend Allan Houston brought home the shooting competition crown with an assist from Rick Brunson, a New York assistant coach and Brunson’s Dad.

CP3 Announces Retirement

On Friday, Chris Paul announced his retirement via social media, bringing an end to one of the league’s most illustrious careers. After 21 seasons, 12,552 assists, and countless young hoopers inspired across the globe, the Point God is ready to turn the page.

In honor of our boy Kenny’s favorite player ever, let’s take a look back on Paul’s unforgettable NBA journey.

⬆️ NOLA Legend

After an exceptional career at Wake Forest, Paul was selected fourth overall in the 2006 Draft by the New Orleans Hornets. He made his mark early, winning ROTY and helping inspire hope for a franchise that was forced to play many of its games in Oklahoma City due to the destruction from Hurricane Katrina.

Paul’s third NBA season was arguably his best— in 2008, he finished second in MVP voting while averaging 21.1 PPG and leading the league in APG (11.6) and SPG (2.7). The Hornets finished with 56 wins that season, a franchise record that still stands today. Improving organizations everywhere he went would become a trend for CP3.

💪 Lob City

In late 2011, Paul knew he was headed to L.A.— he just wasn’t sure where. After the league vetoed a deal that would’ve sent him to the Lakers to team with Kobe Bryant, Paul was traded to the Clippers to form a terrifying trio alongside Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan.

Paul racked up three All-NBA first team selections in L.A. from 2012-2014, and don’t forget about the all-time mixtape. When it comes to near-perfect point guard play, many picture CP3 in a Clips jersey, and for good reason. A lockdown defender who almost never put the ball in jeopardy, Paul was every coach’s dream and every opponent’s nightmare.

💯 Soaring Rocket, Rising Sun

Paul was traded again in the 2017 offseason, this time forming a dynamic backcourt with Houston’s James Harden. With Paul in tow, both the Beard and the Rockets enjoyed historic success— Harden brought home the league MVP award in 2018, while Houston won 65 games and came within a single game of the NBA Finals.

After a season in OKC that saw the Thunder massively overperform preseason expectations with a playoff appearance, Paul was shipped to Phoenix, where he again lifted his team to new heights. CP3’s arrival helped the Suns to top-seven ratings in both offensive and defensive rating, resulting in a 17-win improvement and an NBA Finals appearance. In Game 1 of that series, which Phoenix ultimately lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, Paul dropped 32 PTS and 9 AST in a double-digit Suns win.

In the final years of his career, Paul played single seasons in Golden State and San Antonio, helping mentor future superstars like Victor Wembanyama. There will never, as long as basketball is played, be another CP3, and we can’t wait to see where his post-playing journey leads. Thanks for everything, legend. 🤝

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, take after the All-Star break by giving yourself a rest when you need it. Everything is easier when you strike the right balance between work and relaxation! See you soon.

Walker Carnathan