Day 2 of the 2020 All-Star Weekend will have household names, but it is the event’s most exciting showcase because it’s where stardom begins and less-heralded players generate some well-deserved buzz.

With that, let’s quickly go through the participants for each event.

SLAM DUNK CONTEST

Dwight Howard – Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard is revitalizing his once floundering career this season, and what better way to further the cause with a second Slam Dunk title. He last won in 2008, when he topped off a series of unique dunks by throwing down an alley-oop wearing a Superman cape.

Aaron Gordon – Orlando Magic

The high-flying, versatile, think-outside-the-box dunker is back on the contest for a third time, as he is still hungry for that elusive title. He lost to Zach Lavine in an absolute classic back in 2016, though many would argue that he should’ve won it.

Nevertheless, here’s a good example of how creative of a dunker Gordon is:

Derrick Jones Jr. – Miami Heat

Derrick “Airplane Mode” Jones Jr. has all the physical tools to shine in the event. He has tremendous hops, long arms for a nasty pullback, and great flair to perfectly add flavour.

Jones is a regular fixture on the Heat’s rotation, so his confidence is at a high. It’s unlike his situation when he joined in the 2017 contest as a member of the Phoenix Suns. He entered the contest with just two games and five minutes of NBA action under his belt.

Pat Connaughton – Milwaukee Bucks

Pat Connaughton is the smallest in the group and the one who’s not particularly known for his athletic abilities. Make no mistake about it, though, he can get up and he’ll do it with flair. He’s a really solid dark horse pick.

THREE-POINT CONTEST

Player	Team	3-PT FGs	3-PT FG %
Buddy Hield	Sacramento Kings	207	38.5
Duncan Robinson	Miami Heat	191	43.8
De’Vonte Graham	Charlotte Hornets	190	37.4
Trae Young	Atlanta Hawks	173	36.9
Zach Lavine	Chicago Bulls	168	38.5
Davis Bertans	Washington Wizards	156	42.4
Joe Harris	Brooklyn Nets	126	40.6
Devin Booker	Phoenix Suns	101	35.8

• Joe Harris is the defending champion. He scored 26 of the possible 34 points in last year’s final round.
• Devin Booker is a replacement for the injured Damian Lillard.
• Buddy Hield became the pool’s leader in threes made after Lillard bowed out. The two join James Harden as the only players who already have 200-plus threes this season.
• Trae Young has 17 games this season where he has five of more threes in a game. Among the contestants, he only trails Hield, who has 19.
• Zach Lavine is the only player in the group to also participate in the Slam Dunk contest.
• David Bertans is the contest’s tallest participant at 6’10. If he wins, he’ll be the second-tallest player to do it, behind 7’0 Dirk Nowitzki in 2006.
• De’Vonte Graham, a leading candidate for the Most Improved Player award, only needed 11 games to exceed his total number of threes (34) from last season.
• Duncan Robinson has tallied two or more three-pointers in each of his last 24 games.