Another All-Star Weekend is in the books, with this year’s festivities being held at the Chase Center in downtown San Francisco, California. It was a fitting venue as we are on the 25-year mark of the 2000 edition in Oakland, wherein Vince Carter brought the house down with a timeless performance at the Slam Dunk contest and Jason Williams did his now-iconic elbow pass in the Rookies vs. Sophomores game.
Whether you liked or disliked the overall production and the new tournament-style game, though, it’s a three-day event that once again brought great moments – some on the court, some outside. Let’s list ‘em down.
#5 – Stephen Curry’s one-legged floater from the three-point line
We’ve seen Stephen Curry hit a three-pointer from standard range, the logo, or beyond the logo, including a look-away on each. After all, he’s the greatest shooter the game has ever seen.
So, what’s something new for The Chef? Well, how about a one-legged floater from beyond the arc? He did just that – effortlessly.
While it’s something that only makes sense to do during an exhibition contest, let’s not forget how he revolutionized the game, so who’s to tell we won’t see players do it pretty soon? It’s key to have a quick release, and having a floater is one way to do it.
#4 – Tyler Herro becoming the fifth different Miami Heat to win the Three-Point Contest
Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra’s ‘Heat Culture’ is about hustle, hardwork, a long list of unmeasurable intangibles, and that renowned discipline to maintain a body fat of under 10%.
Finesse offense isn’t exactly highlighted in all of that, so it’s interesting to see current team star Tyler Herro become the fifth different Heat to win the Three-Point contest, following in the footsteps of Glen Rice, Daequan Cook, Jason Kapono, and James Jones.
Herro beat out former contest champion Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors and Eliminations leader Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the final. The hardwood is an added collection to his solid campaign thus far. He’s a first-time All-Star, averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 threes per game on the season, all of which are career-bests.
#3 – ‘Big O’ Oscar Robertson ripping Draymond Green for his controversial comments
The ever-outspoken Draymond Green was in his usual form during the All-Star Weekend as one of the broadcasters – who knows why he keeps getting an invite?
Green had a series of rants and statements, like guaranteeing they will win the championship, not liking the 2025 All-Star game format, claiming that the Rising Stars are not worthy to be on the same floor as the All-Stars, and calling the current NBA “boring” and having “no substance”, something that he’s a part of and has had success at.
Hall-of-Fame point guard Oscar Robertson, the The Big O himself, was at the event, and had time to respond to Green’s steamy takes. What made it great is he kept it simple and got straight to the point.
It’s also refreshing to hear an old-timer speak nicely of the current generation, and not be some bitter-sounding retiree who will just spew some “Back in my day” crap for the nth time.
Charles Barkley also slammed Green, but Robertson’s hit harder, so we’ll give him the nod.
#2 – Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama scheming on the Skills Challenge
If you were among the many who were begging for more effort in the All-Star Weekend, you have to at least respect this one, regardless if you like Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama, or the Skills Challenge in particular – or the entire event. They were at least serious enough to find a work around – or probably just Paul. You just know this has “Chris Paul” written all over it.
The 39-year-old PG was in his fourth time in the competition and has yet to win. His plan? Find the loophole, which he thought he did.
The three-pointer and free-throw part of the obstacle doesn’t actually require a player to hit the shot, so Paul thought it would be best to just throw the balls aimlessly just to keep things moving. It was a nice try, but the rulebook says you have to legitimately try a shot. In short, what he and young Wemby did was illegal, and it led to a disqualification and a classic moment that will probably go down as an All-Star Weekend classic.
#1 – Mac McClung becoming the first player to three-peat in the Slam Dunk contest
The Slam Dunk contest is on life support for a variety of reasons, but the league is very lucky to have someone like Mac McClung always ready to pump some extra life into it. He’s the runaway number one in such lists.
It’s like out of a movie too, considering how McClung was a viral highschool phenom alongside Zion Williamson in the late 2010s, but underperformed in the collegiate level, only to somehow made his way into the NBA and the G-League, to be stuck there, to then become a Slam Dunk contest champion, and the first one to win it in three-straight years.
The kid will be up there with the contest’s all-time legends. The $300K-plus he’s earned in his wins is chump change compared to the value he brought.
