Indiana and basketball are synonymous.
From small-town high schools (think "Hoosiers," the classic movie) to big-city prep teams (Lawrence North in Indianapolis) and from Bob Knight and Assembly Hall at Indiana to Gene Keady and Mackey Arena at Purdue to Brad Stevens and Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler.
From high school legends (John Wooden, Oscar Robertson, Damon Bailey, Rick Mount, Steve Alford, Glenn Robinson, George McGinnis, Junior Bridgeman, Skylar Diggins, Ruth Riley, Katie Douglas) to college stars (Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Gordon Hayward, Zach Edey, Calbert Cheaney, Scott May, Kent Benson, Mike Woodson) to Indiana Pacers stars (Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Billy Knight, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Paul George, Tyrese Haliburton, Jermaine O’Neal) to Indiana Fever stars (Tamika Catchings, Kelsey Mitchell, Katie Douglas, the state oozes basketball lore.
The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend and All-Star Game return to Indianapolis for the first time since 1985, a nod to the state’s basketball history and 89-year-old Pacers owner Herb Simon, who bought the franchise in 1983.
Here’s what to know about the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend and All-Star Game:
NBA All-Star Weekend is Friday-Sunday (February 16-18) in Indianapolis with events taking place at the Indiana Pacers’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.
Friday, Feb. 16
NBA All-Celebrity Game, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
NBA Rising Stars event, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Saturday, Feb. 17
HBCU Classic, Winston-Salem State vs. Virginia Union, 2 p.m. ET, NBA TV, TNT, ESPN 2
All-Star Saturday Night Skills Challenge, 3-point Contest, Steph vs. Sabrina 3-point Challenge, Slam Dunk Content, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Sunday, Feb. 18
G League Up Next Game, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
NBA All-Star Game, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
TNT, ESPN, ESPN 2 and NBA TV and the NBA will provide coverage of the weekend’s events and news conferences, including practices and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s annual All-Star press conference.
East All-Stars
West All-Stars
* Indicates voted in as a starter
% Indicates commissioner's selection for the injured Julius Randle and Joel Embiid
This year, it’s a return to the traditional East vs. West format instead of two captains picking teams. Also, the game returns to a four, 12-minute quarters format opposed to the targeted-score ending to conclude the All-Star Game in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The team that wins each quarter will have donation made in its name to a charitable organization.
Minnesota’s Chris Finch will coach the West, and Milwaukee’s Doc Rivers will coach the East.
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will compete head-to-head in the first NBA vs. WNBA 3-point Challenge. This event will take place after the traditional 3-point contest and before the slam dunk contest.
Curry will shoot from the NBA 3-point line and use NBA basketballs, and Ionescu will shoot from the WNBA 3-point line and use WNBA basketballs. Each made shot will result in a donation from State Farm to the NBA Foundation to support economic empowerment in the Black community.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
