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| Date | February 20, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Arena | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | ||||||||||||||||||
| City | Cleveland | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Stephen Curry (Team LeBron) | ||||||||||||||||||
| National anthem | Macy Gray (American) Ryland James (Canadian) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | 75th Anniversary Team recognition Earth, Wind and Fire | ||||||||||||||||||
| Network | TNT andTBS | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Kevin Harlan,Reggie Miller,Dwyane Wade, andAllie LaForce (All-Star Game, TNT) Ernie Johnson,Shaquille O'Neal,Kenny Smith,Charles Barkley, andDraymond Green (Inside the All-Star Game, TBS) Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller, Dwyane Wade, Kenny Smith, andStephanie Ready (All-Star Saturday Night) Adam Lefkoe,Grant Hill,Brendan Haywood, andChris Haynes (Rising Stars Tournament) | ||||||||||||||||||
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| NBA All-Star Game | |||||||||||||||||||
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The2022 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition game played on February 20, 2022, during theNational Basketball Association's2021–22 season. It was the 71st edition of theNBA All-Star Game. The game was hosted by theCleveland Cavaliers atRocket Mortgage FieldHouse inCleveland, Ohio. This was the third time that the Cleveland area hosted the All-Star Game, the first being in1981 at theColiseum in nearbyRichfield, Ohio, and most recently in1997—three years after the Cavaliers moved back todowntown Cleveland to play in the newly built Gund Arena, which is now known as Rocket Arena. Coincidentally, on the occasion Cleveland hosted an All-Star Game, the NBA celebrated its35th season (1981),50th anniversary (1997), and75th anniversary (2022).[1] The announcement of the site selection was made on November 1, 2018, at a press conference held by the Cleveland Cavaliers.[2]
With teams captained byLeBron James andKevin Durant, Team LeBron won the game 163–160. Team LeBron'sStephen Curry, who scored 50 points,[3] set the record for most three-pointers made in an All-Star quarter (6), half (8), and game (16),[4] and was also named theAll-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player.[5] This was Team LeBron's fifth consecutive All-Star win.[6][7]
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Monty Williams, coach of thePhoenix Suns, qualified as the head coach of Team LeBron on January 30.[8]Erik Spoelstra, coach of theMiami Heat, qualified as the head coach of Team Durant on February 6.[9]
As had been the case in previous years, the rosters for the All-Star Game were selected through a voting process. The fans could vote through the NBA website and the NBA App. The starters were chosen by the fans, media, and current NBA players. Fans made up 50% of the vote, and NBA players and media each comprised 25% of the vote. The two guards and three frontcourt players who received the highest cumulative vote totals in each conferences were named the All-Star starters and two players in each conferences with the highest votes were named team captains.[10] NBA head coaches voted for the reserves for their respective conferences, none of which could be players from their own team. Each coach selected two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards, with each selected player ranked in order of preference within each category. If a multi-position player was to be selected, coaches were encouraged to vote for the player at the position that was "most advantageous for the All-Star team", regardless of where the player was listed on the All-Star ballot or the position he was listed in box scores.[11]
The All-Star Game starters were announced on January 27, 2022.Trae Young of theAtlanta Hawks andDeMar DeRozan of theChicago Bulls were named the backcourt starters in the East, earning their second and fifth all-star appearances, respectively.Kevin Durant of theBrooklyn Nets andGiannis Antetokounmpo of theMilwaukee Bucks were named the frontcourt starters in the East, earning their 12th and sixth all-star appearances, respectively. Joining in the East frontcourt wasJoel Embiid of thePhiladelphia 76ers, his fifth selection.[12]
Ja Morant of theMemphis Grizzlies andStephen Curry of theGolden State Warriors were named to the starting backcourt in the West, earning their first and eighth all-star appearances, respectively. In the frontcourt,Andrew Wiggins of theGolden State Warriors andLeBron James of theLos Angeles Lakers were named to their first and 18th all-star selections, respectively. Joining them was reigning MVPNikola Jokić of theDenver Nuggets, in his fourth all-star selection.[12] Wiggins was the third first-time All-Star to be voted a starter in his eighth season or later.[a] He also became the firstNo. 1 overall draft pick in the modern draft era (since1966) to earn their first All-Star selection in their eighth season or later.[13]
The All-Star Game reserves were announced on February 3, 2022. The West reserves includedDevin Booker of thePhoenix Suns, his third selection (and first as a non-replacement player);Luka Dončić of theDallas Mavericks, his third selection;Rudy Gobert of theUtah Jazz, his third selection;Draymond Green of theGolden State Warriors, his fourth selection;Donovan Mitchell of theUtah Jazz, his third selection;Chris Paul of thePhoenix Suns, his 12th selection; andKarl-Anthony Towns of theMinnesota Timberwolves, his third selection.[14]
The East reserves includedJimmy Butler of theMiami Heat, his sixth selection;Darius Garland of theCleveland Cavaliers, his first selection;James Harden of thePhiladelphia 76ers, his tenth selection;Zach LaVine of theChicago Bulls, his second selection;Khris Middleton of theMilwaukee Bucks, his third selection;Jayson Tatum of theBoston Celtics, his third selection;Fred VanVleet of theToronto Raptors, his first selection; andJarrett Allen of theCleveland Cavaliers, his first selection, as an injury replacement forJames Harden.[14]
Italics indicates leading vote-getters per conference.
^INJ1 Kevin Durant was unable to play due to a knee injury.[15]
^REP1 LaMelo Ball was selected as Kevin Durant's replacement.[15]
^INJ2 Draymond Green was unable to play due to a lower disc injury.[15]
^REP2 Dejounte Murray was selected as Draymond Green's replacement.[15]
^ST Jayson Tatum was selected to start in place of Durant.[15]
^INJ3 James Harden was unable to play due to a hamstring injury, but was present for thehalftime ceremony.[16]
^REP3 Jarrett Allen was selected as James Harden's replacement.[16]
^NOTE1 After being announced as an All-Star, James Harden was traded from theBrooklyn Nets to thePhiladelphia 76ers.[17]
The NBA-All Star draft took place on February 10, 2022.LeBron James andKevin Durant were named captains for the second straight year, as they both received the most votes from the West and East, respectively.[12] The first eight players to be drafted were starters. The next 14 players, chosen by NBA head coaches (seven from each conference), were then drafted. NBA CommissionerAdam Silver selected replacements for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game, choosing a player from the same conference as the player who was being replaced. Silver's selection joined the team that drafted the replaced player. If a replaced player is a starter, the head coach of that team would choose a new starter from their cast of players. James pickedGiannis Antetokounmpo with his first pick, and Durant pickedJoel Embiid second. Team Durant was the home team due to the Eastern Conference having home team status for the game.[18]
| Pick | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | LeBron |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | Durant |
| 3 | Stephen Curry | LeBron |
| 4 | Ja Morant | Durant |
| 5 | DeMar DeRozan | LeBron |
| 6 | Jayson Tatum | Durant |
| 7 | Nikola Jokić | LeBron |
| 8 | Andrew Wiggins | Durant |
| 9 | Trae Young | Durant |
| 10 | Devin Booker | Durant |
| 11 | Luka Dončić | LeBron |
| 12 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Durant |
| 13 | Darius Garland | LeBron |
| 14 | Zach LaVine | Durant |
| 15 | Chris Paul | LeBron |
| 16 | Dejounte Murray | Durant |
| 17 | Jimmy Butler | LeBron |
| 18 | Khris Middleton | Durant |
| 19 | Donovan Mitchell | LeBron |
| 20 | LaMelo Ball | Durant |
| 21 | Fred VanVleet | LeBron |
| 22 | Rudy Gobert | Durant |
| 23 | James Harden | LeBron |
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The 2022 All-Star Game used the same format as the 2020 edition; the team that scores the most points during each of the first three 12-minute quarters received a cash prize, which was donated to a designated charity; the pot would roll over if the teams are tied. The fourth quarter was untimed under the rules of theElam Ending, in which the first team to meet or exceed a "target score"—the score of the leading team in total scoring after three quarters plus 24—was declared the winner.[19]
After one quarter win each and a tie in the third quarter,LeBron James made a walk-off basket on a turnaround fadeaway jumper to win the game 163–160.[20] Team LeBron'sStephen Curry won theNBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award after scoring 50 points, two shy ofAnthony Davis's record and 48 of which were made fromthree-pointers, and setting three-pointers record.[21]
February 20, 2022 8:00 pmET |
| Team Durant 160,Team LeBron163 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 45–47,49–46, 45–45, 21–25 | ||
| Pts:Joel Embiid 36 Rebs: Joel Embiid 10 Asts:Trae Young 10 | Pts:Stephen Curry 50 Rebs:Giannis Antetokounmpo 12 Asts:James,Jokić 8 each | |
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse,Cleveland,Ohio Referees:
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The 2022 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 18, 2022, at theWolstein Center inCleveland,Ohio.[22] The coaches for the 2022 game were NBA legendsBill Walton andDominique Wilkins. Team Walton defeated Team Nique 65–51 and Alex Toussaint took home the MVP award with 18 points.[23]
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A neutral siteMid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)college basketball game between theHoward Bison andMorgan State Bears was held on February 19, 2022, at theWolstein Center as the inaugural NBAHBCU Classic. The NBA andAT&T donated $100,000 to each team's athletic department, and the game was simulcasted byNBA TV,TNT andESPN2.[24][25] Howard defeated Morgan State 68–66.[26]
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^INJ1 Chris Duarte was unable to participate due to a toe injury.[28]
^REP1 Jonathan Kuminga was selected as Chris Duarte's replacement.[28]
^INJ2 Davion Mitchell was unable to participate due to a hand injury.[29]
^REP2 Bones Hyland was selected as Davion Mitchell's replacement.[29]
| Semifinals | Final | |||||
| Team Isiah | 50 | |||||
| Team Worthy | 49 | |||||
| Team Isiah | 20 | |||||
| Team Barry | 25 | |||||
| Team Barry | 50 | |||||
| Team Payton | 48 | |||||
The Skills Challenge took place on February 19.[30] Team Rooks advanced to the finals after winning the third round and receiving 200 points in the round. Team Cavs defeated Team Rooks in the finals afterEvan Mobley drilled a half-court shot.[31]
| Pos. | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| F | Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors |
| G | Cade Cunningham | Detroit Pistons |
| G | Josh Giddey | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Pos. | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Jarrett Allen | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| G | Darius Garland | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| C/F | Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Pos. | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| F | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| F | Alex Antetokounmpo | Raptors 905 |
| F | Thanasis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
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The Three-Point Contest took place on February 19.[30] Towns won his first Three-Point Contest by defeatingTrae Young andLuke Kennard. Towns set the record for most points in the final round with 29 surpassingDevin Booker who had 28 in 2018, becoming the first center to win the event and the first Timberwolves player sinceKevin Love in 2012.[33]
| Pos. | Player | Team | Height | Weight | First round | Final round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C/F | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 6–11 | 248 | 22 | 29 |
| G | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | 6–1 | 164 | 22 | 26 |
| G | Luke Kennard | Los Angeles Clippers | 6–5 | 206 | 28 | 26 |
| G | Patty Mills | Brooklyn Nets | 6–0 | 180 | 21 | DNQ |
| G | CJ McCollum | New Orleans Pelicans | 6–5 | 190 | 19 | |
| G | Desmond Bane | Memphis Grizzlies | 6–5 | 215 | 18 | |
| G | Fred VanVleet | Toronto Raptors | 6–1 | 195 | 16 | |
| G | Zach LaVine | Chicago Bulls | 6–5 | 200 | 14 |
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The Slam Dunk Contest took place on February 19.[30] Toppin won his first NBA Slam Dunk Contest by defeatingJuan Toscano-Anderson in the finals.[35] The contest was heavily criticized by analysts, players, and fans,[36] withDwyane Wade, who was calling the contest, describing it as "a solid six", which in the contest is the lowest score a dunk can receive.[37]
| Pos. | Player | Team | Height | Weight | First round | Final round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Obi Toppin | New York Knicks | 6–9 | 220 | 90(44+46) | 92(45+47) |
| F | Juan Toscano-Anderson | Golden State Warriors | 6–6 | 209 | 87(44+43) | 69(39+30) |
| G | Jalen Green | Houston Rockets | 6–4 | 186 | 83(38+45) | DNQ |
| G | Cole Anthony | Orlando Magic | 6–3 | 185 | 70(40+30) |
Tyrese Haliburton of theIndiana Pacers andDesmond Bane of theMemphis Grizzlies were the winners of the 2022 Clorox Clutch Challenge, an event for the 75th season at the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend.[39] The runner-up teams consisted ofChris Duarte andScottie Barnes,Evan Mobley andJosh Giddey, as well asG-League playersMichael Foster Jr. andZeng Fanbo.[40]Tyrese Maxey would end up replacing Duarte due to injury.
The game was televised nationally in the United States byTNT.[41] This is the first All-Star Game since2000 (then aired onNBC) to not be called byMarv Albert, as he retired at the end of the2020–21 NBA season. (Albert, however, did call the 2000 All-Star Weekend as the event was aired on TNT and not NBC.)[42] Sister networkTBS carried an alternate feed,Inside the All-Star Game, which featured a conversational presentation of the game featuring theInside the NBA panel ofCharles Barkley,Ernie Johnson,Shaquille O'Neal, andKenny Smith, with guests such asDraymond Green. Coaches, referees, and selected players also wore microphones.[43] It was also the only timeKevin Harlan called the All-Star Game, withBrian Anderson taking over starting2023.[44]
In Canada, the game was televised nationally bySportsnet.[45]
