Starting 5, Feb. 14: What you need to know entering an iconic weekend in the Bay – NBA.Com
Source: Heat.com
All-Star Weekend tips today with the Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game (7 ET) and Castrol Rising Stars (9 ET). Here’s your guide to the weekend in The Bay.
T Jass from the top deck to tip off a celebration of basketball in the Bay…
NBA All-Star 2025: One of the greatest weekends on the sports calendar in 2 minutes
Castrol Rising Stars: Tonight (9 ET, TNT), the stakes are higher than ever before
Ruffles Celebrity Game: Kai Cenat, Shaboozey, Druski & Noah Kahan headline a star-studded run (7 ET, ESPN)
Meet The Dunkers, Pt. 4: Mac McClung aims to make AT&T Slam Dunk history on Saturday
Thursday Highlights: Wolves top Thunder, Mavs & Dubs win and a pair of OT thrillers
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Thursday’s final scores before a star-studded weekend…
NBA All-Star 2025 tips off today, highlighted by the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (7 ET, ESPN) and the Castrol Rising Stars (9 ET, TNT). Check out the full All-Star Weekend schedule and all the latest All-Star buzz here.
Happy Valentine’s Day: Give your favorite fan the gift of streaming hoops with NBA League Pass – now 30% off through Feb. 16. Tap here to share the love.
Reads Of The Day: AP on the six All-Star rookies and where LeBron ranks in All-Star history … Billboard on the best music moments in NBA All-Star history … Andscape on Damian Lillard’s return to his Oakland roots
1. ALL-STAR WEEKEND IN THE BAY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Basketball and the Bay Area don’t just share the same first two letters, they share two cities, embedded into each other’s identity — with the region’s deep hoops roots making for a special All-Star weekend.
What Should I Know? The weekend opens with a packed Friday, headlined by two main events: the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Oakland Arena (7 ET, ESPN), followed by the Castrol Rising Stars at Chase Center (9 ET, TNT).
Tomorrow, one of the biggest nights in basketball gets underway with State Farm All-Star Saturday Night (8 ET, TNT), featuring three fan-favorite events.
All-Star 2025 culminates with the 74th All-Star Game on Sunday, featuring the event’s first 4-team, 3-game mini-tournament at Chase Center (8 ET, TNT).
But first, Thursday saw the Bay come alive with final All-Star prep, the arrival of the game’s biggest stars, the media circuit and everything in between — including Wemby’s first All-Star portraits.
Three teams are locked in for Sunday’s All-Star Game: Kenny’s Young Stars, Chuck’s Global Stars and Shaq’s OGs – each boasting eight of this year’s 24 NBA All-Stars.
And for the first time, that spot will be awarded to the winner of tonight’s Castrol Rising Stars (9 ET, TNT).
Dubbed “Run TMC” during their two seasons together as a high-scoring trio with Golden State (1989-91), Hardaway Sr., Richmond and Mullin selected their seven-man squads among the pool of 21 NBA Rising Stars, chosen by NBA assistant coaches.
Tonight on TNT, the four squads will take the floor in hopes of rising to this weekend’s ultimate stage – the 74th All-Star Game.
3. LET THE FUN BEGIN: RUFFLES ALL-STAR CELEBRITY GAME TONIGHT
The world’s best hoopers aren’t the only stars looking to shine on the hardwood this weekend, as the always-entertaining Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game tips off tonight from Oakland Arena (7 ET, ESPN).
From Warrior legends to Grammy-nominated artists, this year’s showdown features celebrities from all walks of entertainment and sports, all looking to prove they’ve got game.
The Coaches? Legends only, as the MLB’s home run king, Barry Bonds, will team up with rapper 2 Chainz as they look to outscheme 3-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice and comedian Khaby Lame.
Want a peek inside practice? See Druski show off his range, and get more on @NBA.
There’s never been a three-peat champ in the AT&T Slam Dunk competition.
But on Saturday (8 ET, TNT), Mac McClung aims to change that.
25 years ago in Oakland, Vince Carter delivered one of the most iconic performances in Slam Dunk history, punctuated by his famous “It’s Over” celebration.
23 years later, McClung followed suit in his Slam Dunk debut, sealing his first title with a reverse 540 in the Championship Round for a perfect 50 — and the VC sign-off.
“I had so much adrenaline,” said McClung looking back on the dunk. “I just didn’t know what to do with my hands.”
But when it comes to high-flying moments, the 6-foot-2 springboard never flinches.
McClung, 26, has been rocking the rim – and the internet – since his high school days, bouncing out of small Virginia gyms and bursting onto the national stage with jaw-dropping jams.
After playing college ball at Georgetown and Texas Tech, McClung has split time between the NBA and G League, where he earned 2023-24 Kia G-League MVP honors and is currently averaging 24.5 ppg and 6.1 apg with the Osceola Magic.
At NBA All-Star 2024, he successfully defended his dunk crown – capped by a trophy-sealing slam over Shaq.
“I love the contest, man,” said McClung on AT&T Slam Dunk. “It’d be an action in fear not to do it again. So, I’ll do it —
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