All-Star Notes: Wembanyama, Curry, Edwards, Giannis
The solution to fixing the competitive level in the NBA’s All-Star Game may be as simple as unleashing Victor Wembanyama, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Making his first appearance in the showcase Sunday night, the 7’3″ center displayed an intensity that got the attention of his fellow All-Stars.
“I thought he played like he plays in a game, seriously,” Damian Lillard said. “When I saw him, I was like, ‘He was not messing around.’ One time, he got fouled. The ref didn’t call it and he got mad. He knows one way, and you can tell that he’s going to play that way every time.”
Wembanyama vowed earlier this week to take the game seriously, something that has been an issue in recent All-Star contests regardless of the format. Playing on a team drafted by Charles Barkley, he saw just six minutes in the semifinal contest, posting six points, four rebounds, a block and a steal. He followed that with 11 points, three rebounds and a block in eight minutes in the championship round.
“My biggest takeaway is that it’s possible to give a hundred percent on that court, to play hard, to play your ass off,” Wembanyama said. “And, for me, it’s the only way to play basketball, and I think it’ll only make the game better.”
There’s more from the All-Star Game:
- Stephen Curry received 12 of the 14 MVP votes, making him the 15th player in NBA history to win the honor more than once, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Several players pointed out that the abbreviated format makes it harder for anyone to put up the gaudy numbers that are typically associated with All-Star MVPs. “In this type of format, nobody is going to have 50 points, or 30 points is even going to be hard to do unless you shoot it every time and make every shot,” Lillard said. “But you look at what jumps out. When was the crowd the loudest? What jumped off the floor? And that’s probably who your MVP is going to be. So, watching the game, it was like, ‘I’m pretty sure Steph is going to win it.’ … I don’t know how many points he had, it couldn’t have been that much, but I think it was the eye test.”
- Anthony Edwards sat out Sunday due to a groin injury, although the reason wasn’t announced until his team lost in the opening round. He didn’t want to risk aggravating the condition with so little at stake, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “I’ve never been an All-Star Game type of guy, to like take it serious and go out there and try to guard somebody and get a stop,” Edwards said. “I’ve never been that type of guy. I just save it for the Timberwolves season, pretty much.”
- Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s suggestion to liven up the All-Star Game is to take it overseas, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “It would be fun,” Antetokounmpo said. “Having a game in the UK or a game in Paris. Or having a game in Greece, obviously is a small country, but why not. Having a game in China, an All-Star Game in China, and all the stars go there for a weekend and play the game.”
NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award Created
The NBA is honoring one of its most beloved and influential players by announcing the NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
The Hall of Fame center, who died in September at 58, is being celebrated for his dedication to expanding the game in Africa and supporting humanitarian causes on the continent.
Commissioner Adam Silver revealed the new award on Saturday at the annual NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon, and the league describes it as “a new annual honor that will recognize a person or an organization that works to advance health, education or economic opportunity across the continent of Africa.” Mutombo, who hailed from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was appointed by former commissioner David Stern as the NBA’s first global ambassador.
“[Mutombo] was a constant fundraiser,” Silver said. “I used to sort of joke when we traveled with him, [and] he had his card as the NBA ambassador — these days when I take out my business card, young people say, ‘what is that piece of paper?’ But when people still had business cards, he would start with his NBA ambassador card, and then he’d wait until I walked away and out would come four other cards of all these other programs that he would be raising money for. He was so committed to it.
“His spirit was infectious. Part of it was just being a 7-footer. We all knew when we traveled with him, whether it was to Mumbai — a place where people might not know much about basketball or Dikembe Mutombo — I think because of his size, because of his laugh, just because of his presence, they instantly would know he was somebody important and he’d create those connections, something we all talk about so much these days.”
Spears notes that the NBA Africa Luncheon is typically filled with energy and celebrations of African music and culture. Although that was true this year, the mood was mixed with solemn remembrances of Mutombo, whose photos adorned the walls of the event.
Mutombo enjoyed an 18-year NBA career, spending time with the Nuggets, Hawks, Rockets, Sixers, Knicks and Nets. He was a three-time All-Star and ranks second on the career blocks list with 3,289. He punctuated many of those rejections with a finger wag that became his trademark.
In addition to his excellence on the court, Mutombo was twice recognized with the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in honor of his service to the community.
His legacy includes the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which was established in 1997 to improve the quality of life for people in the Congo, and a $29MM hospital he opened in 2009 near Kinshasa, which is the nation’s capital. He was also a strong promoter of Basketball Without Borders and an early investor in the Basketball Africa League.
Silver announced Saturday that the NBA will donate 55 basketball courts in Africa in honor of the number Mutombo wore throughout his career, with the first set to be built in Kinshasa.
International Players Express Support For U.S. Vs. The World All-Star Format
As the NBA searches for ways to revive interest in its All-Star Game, one concept that gets frequent mention is a U.S. vs. the World format. Several international players expressed their support for that idea after Sunday’s mini-tournament, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
“I would love to. My opinion is that it’s more purposeful,” said Victor Wembanyama, who figures to be a regular at the All-Star Game for the next decade or so. “There’s more pride in it. More stakes.”
Nine-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo was even more enthusiastic about the idea in his post-game press conference.
“I would love that. Oh, I would love that,” he said. “I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I would love that. For sure, I’d take pride in that. I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete.”
As Reynolds points out, the NHL has been able to generate enormous passion by scrapping its traditional All-Star format and replacing it with the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament. Saturday’s showdown between the U.S. and Canada in Montreal stoked an intense national rivalry and featured three fights in the first nine seconds of the game.
According to Reynolds, some NBA officials are watching the NHL’s success and considering how it could be adapted to basketball. There aren’t enough All-Star players from specific nations to divide them into four teams, but a matchup of American and international stars could create a fresh look for the annual showcase.
“Sometimes things just get old and kind of need a facelift,” Draymond Green said. “I know they’ve done different things to try to get it going. I think what’ll be interesting to see is how this 4 Nations thing turns out in hockey. If that turns out great, might have to peek an eye.”
Reynolds notes that this year’s rosters already feature six international All-Stars, with Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo joined by Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam and Alperen Sengun. Luka Doncic would likely be there if not for the injuries have plagued him this season, and Reynolds points to Karl-Anthony Towns, who plays for the Dominican Republic in international competitions, as another addition.
However, filling out the World roster could mean adding a few players who aren’t as deserving of All-Star status. It would also take away four spots from American players, who make up roughly 70% of the NBA, which is why there’s reluctance to try it out.
“Not to say we couldn’t figure out a way around this, but to the extent we want to have a fair process for picking All-Stars, if you’re picking half the players from a 30% pool and the other half from a 70% pool, it might not be fair to the players,” commissioner Adam Silver said recently. “So, that’s one thing we’re looking at.”
Kyrie Irving Considers Playing For Australia In 2028 Olympics
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics, is interested in representing Australia in the 2028 Games, writes Grant Afseth of Athlon Sports. Irving, who was born in Melbourne and has joint U.S. and Australian citizenship, has already explored the steps that would be necessary to make the change.
“Man, we’re in the process of that right now, just trying to figure out the best route for me to be eligible,” he said at All-Star Weekend. “There’s a lot of paperwork involved. Obviously, USA still has a decision to make, but for me, I’m just trying to do what’s best. Honestly, if I can be an Aussie at one point in my career and play for the Australian team, that would be great.”
Irving first floated the idea of switching teams last fall, Afseth adds. That came after he was passed over for the 2024 U.S. squad that captured gold in Paris, despite expressing his interest in playing to Team USA Managing Director Grant Hill on numerous occasions.
“I had communication with Grant throughout the season, but I think it was more or less a surprise that I wanted to play,” Irving said in an October interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I think it was just a surprise that I wanted to play and [that] I was engaged. I speak on this from a healthy standpoint, like let me make sure that’s clear too. It wasn’t jealousy. It was like, ‘Oh, OK, this means that there’s an extra motivation, just naturally, where, OK, I guess 2028 [is the plan]?’ And maybe it’s not for Team USA. I’m just really proud of the [Team USA] guys, at the end of the day.”
Irving continues to put up elite numbers at age 32, averaging 24.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 44 games. However, Amick notes that he’ll be 36 when Los Angeles hosts the Games in 2028 and will face plenty of competition from younger American players.
His path toward an Olympic spot figures to be easier with Australia, although the Boomers have established themselves as one of the best teams in international basketball. Afseth states that Irving will need clearance from both USA Basketball and FIBA before he could play for Australia.
Players Mixed On New All-Star Format
The NBA’s latest attempt to fix the All-Star Game drew a mixed reaction from the players involved, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
Amid declining ratings and a feeling that the All-Stars weren’t motivated enough to really compete, the league scrapped the traditional 48-minute game and divided the players into four teams — three of which were selected by TNT personalities Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith and the other consisting of young players who advanced through Friday’s Rising Stars event.
The teams played three mini-games to 40, with O’Neal’s team defeating Barkley’s in the finals and hometown favorite Stephen Curry winning MVP honors. Curry is among those who welcome the changes after last year’s lifeless 211-186 contest.
“I think it was a good step in the right direction to reinvigorate the game in some way,” he said. “And then you tinker with it again next year and see what changes you can make. I don’t want to compare it to any other era because the world has changed, life is different, the way people consume basketball is different. So, it’s not going to look like it used to. But it still can be fun for everybody.”
More defense was on display this year, Reynolds observes, as the teams shot 50% in the three mini-games, as opposed to 56% a year ago. There were also three combined blocked shots in 48 minutes in the 2024 game, a number that was matched in the first three minutes of the opening contest.
Jalen Brunson is also intrigued by the new format, but suggests that the games should be longer. Jayson Tatum questions the idea of having Rising Stars involved in one of the league’s showcase events.
“Obviously happy for those guys,” Tatum said. “But there is something to be said, it’s kind of a big deal to be an All-Star and play Sunday night. Some guys get snubbed and other guys have to work really, really hard to make the All-Star Game. Playing on Sunday night is special, and it always has been. I’m not saying that that was the right or wrong decision. Trial run, I guess. They’ll continue to make tweaks or whatever.”
There were also concerns that the night had too many stoppages for entertainment purposes, per Michael C. Wright of ESPN. Time was set aside for emcee Kevin Hart to banter with the crowd, and there was a 20-minute break during the final game for a retrospective on the TNT crew.
“To be honest, I didn’t like it at all,” Trae Young said. “I didn’t like the breaks. The games were so short. Obviously, we can score. So, they’re trying to, I feel like, trying to extend the game, extend the TV time with the breaks and things like that.”
Here are a few more reactions from players and media members:
- Draymond Green, who served as a guest commentator during the broadcast, was also critical of including the young players and the format change in general (Twitter video link from NBA Central). “I had to work so hard to play on Sunday night of All-Star Weekend,” he said. “And because ratings are down and the game is bad, we’re bringing in rising stars. That’s not a fix.”
- Damian Lillard prefers the traditional East-West matchup and said he would be fine with borrowing Major League Baseball’s idea by giving home-court advantage in the Finals to the conference that wins, per Rachel Nichols of Fox Sports 1 (Twitter link). Lillard also suggested replacing the Rising Stars with an “all-snub” team of players who weren’t selected for the game.
- Responding to a question about replacing the game with a one-on-one tournament, Kevin Durant said he’d “probably” take part (Twitter video link from Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic). “You never know. We never thought we’d see a tournament in an All-Star weekend, either,” Durant said. “Anything is up in the air. I think (NBA commissioner Adam Silver) and those guys are doing a great job of pushing the envelope, trying to be creative, trying to reignite the All-Star weekend. That might be a solution.”
- Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard suggests separating All-Stars by age, matching a team of under-30 players with those 30 and older (Twitter link).
- Rod Beard of The Detroit News gave the new format a one-star review, calling it “nearly unwatchable” and a “disjointed patchwork” of basketball and entertainment. He pointed to Cade Cunningham, who only got to play five minutes in his first All-Star appearance because of the shortened games. Beard suggests dividing the All-Stars into three eight-player teams and putting them into a round robin competition.
Daniel Theis Signs With AS Monaco
February 17: The signing is official, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.
February 11: Theis has committed to sign with AS Monaco and is finalizing an agreement with the team, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.
According to Urbonas, Theis drew interest from NBA teams and received a more lucrative offer from Panathinaikos, but the big man is seeking a situation in which he can play a significant role.
If Theis ends up signing a multiyear contract, it will likely include an NBA opt-out clause, Urbonas adds.
February 9: Daniel Theis is considering a return to the EuroLeague after being waived by the Thunder this week, and AS Monaco appears to be the favorite to sign him, according to Greek outlet SDNA.
Theis, who joined the Pelicans as a free agent during the offseason, was traded to Oklahoma City at Thursday’s deadline along with a 2031 second-round draft pick. Unloading his minimum-salary contract enabled New Orleans to move beneath the luxury tax threshold.
Theis has cleared waivers and is free to sign with any NBA team, but there may not be an offer available for the 32-year-old big man. He played for four EuroLeague teams before coming to the NBA in 2017, and a return to Europe may be his best option.
SDNA reports that Monaco “has taken a big lead” in the competition for Theis due in part to his familiarity with its personnel. He worked with assistant coach Ilias Kantzouris for three seasons at Brose Bamberg from 2014-17.
Panathinaikos has also expressed an interest in Theis and is reportedly willing to outbid Monaco, according to SDNA. However, money may not be the primary factor as Theis considers his next move.
Theis has played for six teams during his eight NBA seasons, starting with Boston, which signed him in 2017. He was traded to Chicago at the 2021 deadline and then to Houston later that year. He also had brief stints with Indiana and the Clippers before coming to New Orleans.
He has appeared in 411 total NBA games, making 160 starts and averaging 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per night.
Theis is also a prominent name in international basketball, serving as the starting center on the undefeated German team that won the World Cup in 2023.
Stephen Curry Named All-Star MVP; Shaq’s Team Wins Mini-Tournament
Stephen Curry was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player, Octagon Basketball tweets. Curry was a member of the victorious Shaq’s OGs squad.
Shaq’s OGs defeated Candace’s Rising Stars 42-35 in the semifinals of the four-team mini-tournament. In the final, they faced Chuck’s Global Stars, who had defeated Kenny’s Young Stars 41-32 in the other semifinal. Shaq’s OGs downed Chuck’s Global Stars, 41-25, for the championship.
Shaq’s squad also featured Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, James Harden and Jaylen Brown. Anthony Davis was originally chosen for the squad but was sidelined by an adductor injury and was replaced by Irving.
LeBron James was also on the team but was a late scratch, as he rested his sore ankle and foot.
The championship-winning players received $125K apiece. Each player on Chuck’s team received $5oK, while all other participants collected $25K.
Northwest Notes: Daigneault, Edwards, Camara, Henderson
Mark Daigneault made a meteoric rise from an assistant on Billy Donovan‘s staff at the University of Florida to being a head coach at the All-Star Game. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater takes a deep dive into the Thunder coach’s career, noting that his former boss is proud of his accomplishments.
“It’s crazy how life works,” Donovan said. “I remember when he was sitting there, and we were having camp (at Florida), and he’s waiting to meet me. He’s 24, 25 years old, just wants a job, and he’s willing to work for free. And if you just said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be an NBA head coach and coaching the All-Star game.’ Nobody would’ve believed that, right?
“So, I just think it speaks to him and the people in Oklahoma City and the players and his staff. I’m just really happy for him because he’s a great guy.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Anthony Edwards has improved his three-point shot this season and now he’s using that threat to make him even more effective driving to the basket, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. After averaging 2.4 free-throw attempts per game in December, Edwards took an average of 8.1 free throws in January and 11 per game in February. The Timberwolves star averaged just 20.5 points per game in December, but pushed that figure to 30.3 in January. In six February games, he’s averaging 34.3 PPG.
- Toumani Camara was included in a three-team blockbuster in 2023, moving from Phoenix to Portland ahead of his rookie season. He never got a chance to play for the Suns but he feels he would have thrived there, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic tweets. Camara is averaging 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and has emerged as a defensive ace in his second season with the Trail Blazers. “I feel like the month I spent in Phoenix, a lot of people appreciated my game and stuff like that,” Camara said. “I was pretty confident in the space and environment I was in. I feel like the month I spent in Phoenix, a lot of people appreciated my game and stuff like that. I was pretty confident in the space and environment I was in.”
- Camara and Scoot Henderson have become the best of friends, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic, and the Trail Blazers teammates have lofty goals. “Me and Tou, we have told each other: ‘We are going to do this. We are going to be great together … and we are going to do it here, in Portland,’” Henderson said. “We haven’t told anyone, but we have those conversations.” Henderson, the No. 3 pick of the 2023 draft, has mainly come off the bench this season. He’s averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 assists in 26.5 minutes per game.
LeBron James Won’t Play In All-Star Game
LeBron James won’t play in tonight’s All-Star Game, he announced during a pregame press conference (Twitter video link via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints).
“You won’t see anything from me tonight,” he said. “Unfortunately, I will not be in uniform tonight. Still dealing with ankle and foot discomfort.”
James was slated to make his 21st All-Star appearance. He was part of Shaq’s Team in the new four-team mini-tournament format. He won’t be replaced on that team, leaving seven players available on that squad.
James is hopeful that he’ll be able to suit up for the next Lakers game on Wednesday against Charlotte, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times tweets. He has missed four regular season games.
Pacific Notes: Durant, Edwards, James, Harden
The Suns got off to an 8-1 start but it’s been a rocky ride since that point. They entered the All-Star break with a 26-28 record, 11th in the Western Conference. At All-Star media day on Saturday, Kevin Durant gave his take on why they’ve faltered, as The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin relays.
“We started well,” he said. “I feel like we definitely could be playing better. I feel like there’s a couple factors. We had some guys in and out of the lineup. We’re not rebounding well, turning the ball over. I think just fundamental stuff I think we’ll be better. If we fix that coming out of the break, I think we’ll have a better chance to win some basketball games.”
Durant believes the club will finish strong, citing the recent additions of Nick Richards and Bol Bol to the starting five.
“We made a couple lineup changes, too, that will help us out, adding more size to our starting lineup, so that may help, as well,” Durant said. “Our last few games, we’ve just been playing a better brand of ball. Even though we lost two, I feel like we’re just playing a better brand of ball, a more sustainable brand with the lineup switches like that.”
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- The Timberwolves reportedly made a last-ditch attempt prior to the trade deadline to engage in talks with the Suns regarding Durant. Fellow Western Conference All-Star Anthony Edwards couldn’t believe the Suns even entertained offers for Durant, according to Rankin. “Yeah, I was super surprised,” Edwards said. “Didn’t think Phoenix would be trying to trade him.”
- LeBron James will become the third player in NBA history to appear in an All-Star Game after turning 40. James will also be making his 21st appearance in the game and he’s humbled by the opportunity. “Special thanks to my fans that voted me in their portion,” the Lakers forward said, per Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. “The coaches, the players who had anything to do with me being a part of it. It’s always special and very humbling and I don’t take it for granted being an All-Star. It’s something that, when I was a kid, I always watched the All-Star Game and had the opportunity to do and I always wanted to be on that floor. But it’s always special. I’m pretty happy about it.”
- James Harden is making his first All-Star appearance since 2022. The Clippers guard was confident he could reach that level again, he told Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “I never doubted it,” Harden said. “It was me just, you know, finally being healthy and getting back to my zone. Getting back to who I am and here I am.” Harden is averaging 21.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game this season.