It feels like the new year started only a couple of days ago, and yet, we’re less than a week away from the month of February. While there’s plenty to look forward to next month in the world of sports, like the Super Bowl and the start of Spring Training for the MLB, only one thing is on our minds these days: the 2023 NBA All Star Game.
This year’s All Star Game includes the draft format the league presented us with six years ago. However, for the 2023 NBA All Star Game, things are going to be a little bit different.
Next month, right before the game takes place on February 19, both team captains will draft up their rosters and then head straight into play. The 2023 NBA All Star Game captains and starters were announced last night, with LeBron James named the West’s captain, and Giannis Antetokounmpo named the East’s. None of our local favorites were named starters last night, but we’ll dive right into who else was, which of our guys still has a shot to be a reserve, and some of our favorite Chicago Bulls All Star moments as we look forward to the 2023 NBA All Star Game!
Three voting groups determined the starters:
Advertisement• Fans (50%)
• NBA players (25%)
• Media panel 25%)Complete voting results here: https://t.co/M8btg7M0GP
AdvertisementBelow are the overall scores for the top finishers at each position. pic.twitter.com/HQ9W20Z6Ke
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 27, 2023
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2023 All Star Game Starters
This season, the following players earned All Star Game starter status after fan, player, and media voting concluded:
East All Star Game Starters
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
West All Star Game Starters
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors)
Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks)
Like we said before, none of our guys made the cut, but the Chicago Bulls still have a chance to represent in the 2023 NBA All Star Game.
Next Thursday, on February 2, the league plans to announce the reserve players for the game on the show NBA Tip-Off on TNT at 6 PM CST. Unlike starters which are selected by a combination of voters, where fans account for 50%, current players for 25%, and media for the other 25%, the reserves are chosen by all the 30 head coaches. And this is where the Bulls have a shot at sending a guy to the game.
It might only be one guy, and if we had to put our money on it, we’d bet that DeMar DeRozan is named a reserve for the 2023 NBA All Star Game. When he’s not named a starter like he was last season, DeRozan often gets in with the coach vote given his history in the league. To add to that, he finished 4th in player voting in the East and 6th in fan voting.
Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown are almost a given to be selected as reserve representatives for the East, and we have no reason not to believe DeRozan won’t be there in one of the other 5 openings.
Our Favorite ASG Bulls Moments
His Airness Wins The Dunk Contest
He may have taken home his first All Star Game MVP trophy back in 1988, but what Michael Jordan did in the dunk contest that year might be more impressive.
Going head-to-head with fellow hall of famer, Dominique Wilkins, both players put on a show in what is considered one of the best dunk contests in league history. Jordan’s famous free-throw line dunk helped secure the victory for the GOAT. And the way he glided through the air on that attempt led him to earning the nickname Air Jordan for life.
MJ Makes History
In his second full season back after returning from his time-off playing baseball, Michael Jordan once again found himself in the NBA All Star game in 1997. The year prior, Jordan found himself winning All Star MVP, but what he did the year after is one for the record books.
After leading the NBA with over 2.4 million votes, which is 600,000 ahead of the second-highest player, Jordan went on to notch the first triple-double in NBA All Star game history with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Even though he didn’t win back-to-back All Star MVPs with that impressive feat, one of his teammates managed to walk away with an award during the weekend.
Kerr Shoots Like Curry
While his teammate was out creating All Star Game history, Steve Kerr created a bit of personal history during the three-point contest in 1997.
Going against defending three-point contest champion, Tim Legler, Kerr edged him out 22-18 in the final round to secure his first ever three-point contest win. It was the fourth attempt of his career, and up until that point he had only ever finished as high as 3rd.
And now, he coaches one of the greatest three-point shooters in the history of basketball. Funny how that works.
D-Rose Ends Our Drought
Following the Jordan-era Bulls of the 90s, the franchise would find themselves without an All Star player for the entirety of the 2000s. That all changed with a young Bull in 2011.
In his first All Star Game appearance, Derrick Rose finished with eight points, four assists, and three steals in his 15 minutes of play off the bench. It wasn’t the flashiest of performances, but his participation in the game brought the Bulls back to the All Star Game, and the trend continued for the rest of the decade to today. The year prior to his first All Star appearance, Rose won the Skills Challenge during his rookie season, and has been the only Chicago Bull to ever win the competition.
You can watch the 2023 NBA All Star Game on Sunday, February 19 at 7PM CST on TNT and TBS. Don’t forget to tune in a bit early, because the All-Star Draft will take place right before the big game. Earlier in the weekend, the popular All-Star Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge will take place on Friday, February 17. And then on Saturday, there will be an HBCU Classic at 3PM CST followed by the skills challenge, three-point contest, and slam dunk contest.
Visit the NBA’s website to learn more about the upcoming NBA All-Star weekend!