As entertaining as Sunday night’s All-Star game promises to be, many NBA fans – including yours truly – are just as intrigued by tonight’s specialty events as they are with the game itself. Just to keep you all as informed as possible prior your placing of ludicrous bets on everything from the length of Steve Nash’s shorts to the prop that Nate Robinson will use in the dunk contest, The Campus Socialite is here to offer you a preview of tonight’s Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout, and the Slam Dunk Contest. We also have taken the liberty to assume that you will not need detailed info on H.O.R.S.E., the NBA/WNBA Shooting Stars Competition, or the Celebrity Game because if you are betting on these events, then you would be better served with the number for Gambler’s Anonymous (213-386-8789).
2010 Taco Bell Skills Challenge Competitors
Derrick Rose, G, Chicago Bulls (defending champion)
Brandon Jennings, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Steve Nash, G, Phoenix Suns
Deron Williams, G, Utah Jazz
The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose will defend his title in the 2010 Taco Bell Skills Challenge against Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks, Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz, as part of All-Star Saturday Night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The 2010 field features three of the event’s six previous winners.
2009 Skills Challenge Highlights
2010 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout Participants
Daequan Cook, G, Miami Heat (defending champion)
Chauncey Billups, G, Denver Nuggets
Stephen Curry, G, Golden State
Channing Frye, C, Phoenix Suns
Danilo Gallinari, F, New York Knicks
Paul Pierce, F, Boston Celtics
Six shooters, chosen from the previous year’s champion (Cook) and the current season’s top 3-point shooters, will compete in the two round competition. Since Larry Bird won the first one — well, the first three — the All-Star Three-Point Shootout title has been held by little guards (two-time champion Mark Price stood just 6 feet tall) and 7-foot forwards (much like 6’11’’ center Channing Frye will try to accomplish this year).
Daequan Cook (below) returns to the Three-Point Shootout to defend his 2009 title
2010 Slam Dunk Contest Participants
Nate Robinson, G, New York Knicks (defending champion)
Gerald Wallace, F, Charlotte Bobcats
Shannon Brown, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Dunk-In Winner (Eric Gordon, G, Los Angeles Clippers or DeMar DeRozan, G, Toronto Raptors)
From Larry Nance, Spud Webb, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins to Dwight Howard and Nate “The Great” Robinson, the Slam Dunk competition has become the place to be and the event to watch in the run-up to the All-Star Game. This season, Robinson will defend his title and try to become the first three-time winner of the event. Check out The Campus Socialite’s special on Nate’s kicks – the Kyptonates.
Top 10 Dunk Contest Firsts
Be sure to tune into TNT at 8 p.m. ET on Tonight night to get your fix of all the All-Star festivities.
