The second day of NBA All-Star weekend is set to begin on Saturday, with the attention turning to the established stars.
After the rookies and second-year players had their turn Friday night, the weekend will get into full swing with the dunk contest, three-point contest and skills challenge for All-Star Saturday night. Before that, there will be the All-Star practice at the Huntsman Center at 11 a.m.
Jazz players Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler will represent Utah in the skills challenge. Lauri Markkanen will open up his all-star weekend in the three-point contest.
Throughout the day, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will also speak at 5 p.m. inside Vivint Arena. And the NBA will host an HBCU game between Southern and Grambling State at the Huntsman Center at 2 p.m.
Time for All-Star Saturday night: 6 p.m. MT
Television: TNT
Streaming: Sling TV, fuboTV
Here is a look at some of the news, notes and sounds from the heart of All-Star weekend:
Shaq passes on The Pie
The Pie Pizzeria is a crucial part of the University of Utah campus experience for most students. So it’s possible that NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal miffed the MUSS on Friday night at the Huntsman Center.
During the NBA’s celebrity all-star game, Jimmy Kimmel sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez made his way across the court to offer O’Neal a slice of pizza from the beloved local pizzeria.
O’Neal declined.
The reason? Papa John’s recently signed Shaq to an endorsement deal worth $5.6 million over the next three years.
Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors perform All-Star introductions
Actors Michael B. Jordon and Jonathan Majors were among the celebrities to partake in All-Star Saturday Night. They both introduced the skills challenge participants.
Guy Fieri was also in the crowd and introduced on the video board.
All-Star practice at the Huntsman Center
Shaun White shows up for All-Star weekend
Olympic gold medalist Shaun White arrived in Salt Lake City for the weekend festivities. He was at the Grit Rail Jam near the arena, where snowboarders put on a competition.
Jordan Clarkson has a little too much fun on Friday night
Jordan Clarkson began his All-Star weekend with a little fun. So much so it actually caused him to miss his teammate Walker Kessler’s performance in the Rising Stars game on Friday night.
“I started popping some Coors Lights. Drinking a little tequila and whiskey, having some fun with my family,” Clarkson laughed. “I kinda missed a little bit of that, just having some fun enjoying the All-Star break. I’ll see him tonight though. We got to win the skills challenge.”
Later on, Clarkson dove into his thoughts on whether the NBA’s 82-game season is too long. With the current CBA expiring in the 2023-24 season, and current negotiations ongoing, the length of the season came up frequently at All-Star media day.
“That would be love but I enjoy playing,” Clarkson said on whether he wants a decreased number of games. “Having the sit out any game, whether you’re sick of whatever it is, I’m trying to perform every night. But definitely if games are shortened, you get longer careers. The impact of that, you probably see less load management. Either way, keep it the same or shorten the games, I’ll still play it and give it my all.”
Damian Lillard plans to wear Weber State jersey for 3-point contest
Seven-time all-star Damian Lillard will pay tribute to his Utah roots at Vivint Arena tonight. The Weber State alum plans to wear his college jersey for the 3-point contest.
“I think the fans will get a kick out of that,” Lillard said.
Lillard averaged 18.6 points per game in four seasons in Ogden, where his jersey is retired.
Carlos Boozer hopes highly ranked sons will play for Jazz one day
Former Jazz player Carlos Boozer has already been a staple of All-Star festivities this week. He was at an NBA Cares event at Lincoln Elementary in South Salt Lake on Thursday. He played in the celebrity game on Friday.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Carlos Boozer, Dwyane Wade, and Ryan Smith react as Richard Jefferson prepares to play in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
Boozer, who spent six seasons in Salt Lake City from 2004-10, is reuniting with a fanbase eager to welcome him back. But the biggest question for him these days is about the future of his basketball prodigy sons.
Cameron and Cayden Boozer are highly-rated high school players in the class of 2025. Cameron Boozer is No. 1 in the 2025 class, per ESPN. Cayden Boozer checks in at No. 24.
With the Jazz’s arsenal of draft picks, could another Boozer be playing in Salt Lake? The oldest Boozer hopes so.
“They are working their butts off and they are hard-working kids,” Carlos Boozer told The Tribune. “They love the game and they are getting better. The Jazz have done a good job of locking up all those draft picks in the next three years. So we will see. Fingers crossed.”
A secret motivation for Boozer?
“If they come here maybe I can snowboard a little bit,” he laughed.
