The NBA is set to enter its annual break for the All-Star Game and its surrounding games and activities with the 2023 edition of the event set to take place in Salt Lake City.
The NBA All-Star Weekend - which marks the 30th anniversary of the first NBA All-Star Game hosted by the Utah Jazz back in 1993 - begins on Friday with the celebrity game and the Rising Star Challenge, which will feature 2022 NBA Draft first pick Paolo Banchero as well as Brit-Pole Jeremy Sochan. NBA All-Star Saturday will feature the skills challenge, three-point contest and slam dunk contest.
While fans will tune into the likes of Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard competing in the three-point contest, the main event is on Sunday 19 February. The All-Star Game will see Team LeBron take on Team Giannis after Los Angeles Lakers icon - and NBA all-time scorer - LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo were voted as captains.
NBA All-Star starters were announced January 26, while the reserves were announced on earlier this month on February 2. This will be the sixth consecutive year in which the All-Star Game utilises a ‘draft’ format, in which each conference's highest voted player - James for the Western Conference and Antetokounmpo for the Eastern Conference - serves as captain and drafts a roster from the remaining 22 players.
However, there is a fun twist for 2023: this will be the first year where the draft will take place just moments before the start of the game as a live segment. This year's All-Star Game will be the fourth to use the target score - the score of the leading team after the third quarter, plus 24 points - and the fourth quarter will be played without a game clock as both sides aim to reach that specific number.
Here is all you need to know about the 2023 All-Star Game - including who is taking part:
What time does the All-Star Game tip-off?
Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30am Monday morning UK time. The game will begin at 6:30pm local time in Salt Lake City, Utah.
All-Star Game TV channel and live stream
The All-Star Game can be watched in the UK live on Sky Sports Arena, Mix and Main Event from 12:30am.Sky Sports customers can live stream the game via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription.
Fans can also watch the match via NOW without signing up to a contract. NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via BT Sport.
All-Star Game Starters
Eastern Conference - coach: Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns after trade deadline, formerly Brooklyn Nets) - due to injury, replaced by Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks after trade deadline, formerly Brooklyn Nets)
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
Western Conference - coach: Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets)
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) - due to injury, replaced by Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) - due to injury, replaced by Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
All-Star Game Reserves
Eastern Conference
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Demar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)
Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors) - injury replacement
Western Conference
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) - injury replacement
De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings) - injury replacement
Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)
