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.
Southwest Notes: McCollum, Mavs, Konchar, Jackson, Rockets
CJ McCollum has been a bright spot in an otherwise glum season for the Pelicans. McCollum notched his third 40-plus point night since the start of the New Year on Thursday, leading them to an overtime victory against Sacramento. McCollum’s 43-point night allowed New Orleans to snap a 10-game losing streak.
“CJ is incredible,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green told Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “He’s one of our guys that’s literally holding things together in the locker room with these young guys. He’s been through so much throughout the course of his career. He’s a staple for us. We see it week in and week out that he comes out and gives it everything he has every night.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Overshadowed by the firestorm regarding the Luka Doncic trade is that the Mavericks, despite a wave of injuries, entered the All-Star break having won four of their last five games. That included a five-point victory over Miami in their last outing. “The bumps and bruises go away faster,” coach Jason Kidd said, per Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal. “As I told the guys, get some rest, enjoy the break, be safe and when we come back, it’s time to push forward and find a way to get as high a seed as we can and win as many games as we can. Sometimes, you want the break. We do need the break, but we are starting to play pretty good basketball.”
- During a Bleacher Report live stream (YouTube link), Jake Fischer identifies Grizzlies guard John Konchar as a potential buyout candidate. Konchar has posted modest stats in 29 appearances this season and isn’t part of the team’s regular rotation. However, he’s also in the first year of a three-year, $18.5MM contract, which is fully guaranteed, so it would seem like a long shot for the two parties to agree on a buyout.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. is aiming for his second Defensive Player of the Year award, though it will be difficult to beat out Victor Wembanyama for that honor going forward. Jackson, who is making his second All-Star appearance, leads the Grizzlies in blocks and steals. “It’s a team award, really. So it would mean the world,” Jackson told Mark Medina of Athlon Sports. “It’s hard to win it two times. You can see that now. It’s not a given. So it would mean the world.”
- The Rockets are clinging to fourth place in the Western Conference standings after losing seven of their last nine contests prior to the All-Star break. They dropped Thursday’s game to Golden State by a score of 105-98 and their head coach said the club needs some time off. The absences of Fred VanVleet (ankle) and Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) have played a major role in their slide. “We could be mentally and physically fried,” coach Ime Udoka told Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “But everybody’s in the situation right now going into the break. Maybe our guys are tired, but … a lack of competitiveness is not an excuse.”
Pistons Notes: Thompson, Cunningham, Chemistry, Blaha
Pistons second-year forward Ausar Thompson hasn’t attempted a single 3-point shot in his last nine games but he’s found other ways to be an offensive threat, Hunter Patterson and Shakeia Taylor of The Athletic write. In seven February games, Thompson is averaging 14.6 points and 4.4 assists per contest while shooting 69.5% from the floor.
Thompson’s rookie season was cut short by blood-clotting issues and the start of his sophomore campaign was delayed until he was cleared to play. The No. 5 pick in the 2023 draft has now jumped into the starting lineup with Jaden Ivey sidelined by a broken fibula.
“He’s just putting it all together now and it’s great to see,” forward Tobias Harris said. “Every player has their own journey and I just think that you’re seeing him blossom into his game and really figure out his spots on the floor. … As he continues to gain that confidence in his game all around, he’s going to be a hell of a player in this league.”
We have more on the Pistons:
- Cade Cunningham, who is making his first All-Star appearance, said that undergoing season-ending shin surgery in his second season was a difficult decision that has paid off in the long run, he told Coty Davis of the Detroit News. “(The pain) got to a point where it was unbearable,” Cunningham said. “It definitely hindered my athletic development. So, getting the surgery allowed me to push myself to get my lower body strong again; all that stuff was huge for me, and now I feel better than I ever have.”
- Cunningham told Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press that he’s humbled by the accolades and support he’s received. “When I walk into arenas, really anywhere I go now, people are yelling All-Star, people are saying congratulations and telling me how cool it is and all that stuff,” he said. “It means a lot hearing that. To be amongst the All-Stars of the NBA, that’s a huge deal and I don’t take that lightly. It means a lot to me.”
- The Pistons are three games above .500 at the All-Star break, something no one outside of the organization could have anticipated. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes that the “vibes” among the players has played a big role, Sankofa writes in the same story. “All I can speak on is what I’ve seen since I’ve been here. The guys’ attitude, personality, chemistry, all those things has been excellent,” he said. “The vibes every day in the building are always positive, always uplifting, we’re not perfect, we have our moments, our emotions, we get into it and go back and forth but we quickly move on, and that’s the sign of a team that’s actually gelled and come together and has chemistry it takes to be successful.”
- Longtime Pistons broadcaster George Blaha has been selected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. He’s the recipient of the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award for electronic media, Rod Beard of the Detroit News relays. Blaha is in his 49th season as an NBA broadcaster. “I have to say, it’s thrilling to be part of that organization and truly to be singled out among the broadcasters,” Blaha said. “I’ve been to Springfield any number of times, and now I get to go back as an honoree. It’s going to be awesome.”
Hornets Sign Wendell Moore To Two-Way Deal
The Hornets have signed Wendell Moore Jr. to a two-way contract, the team’s PR department tweets.
Moore appeared in 20 games this season with the Pistons this season, posting 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 11.0 minutes per contest. Detroit waived him on Feb. 6 to clear a roster spot during the week of the trade deadline.
He was originally selected by the Mavericks in the first round (26th overall) of the 2022 draft and spent his first two seasons with the Timberwolves.
It’s a homecoming for Moore. He’s a native of Charlotte and won back-to-back state championships at Cox Mill High in Concord, N.C. before playing three seasons at Duke.
Charlotte opened up a two-way spot by waiving Isaiah Wong on Thursday. Wong appeared in 20 games with the Hornets this season, averaging 6.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.3 minutes per game.
Heat Notes: Losing Streak, Wiggins, Rozier, Adebayo, Herro, Mitchell
The All-Star break came at a good time for the Heat. They have lost four straight contests and 11 of their last 16, dropping them three games below .500.
The Heat took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game in Oklahoma City, then was outscored 32-8 in the final frame. On Thursday, they fell 118-113 to a depleted Dallas squad that was missing its entire starting five due to injuries.
“Everybody understands the urgency right now,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “There’s not a man in that locker room that doesn’t understand it. We’re disappointed, we’re frustrated. This is humbling.”
We have more out of Miami:
- The Heat were far from full strength in the loss to the Mavericks. Only 10 players were available with Andrew Wiggins missing the game due to a stomach illness after playing 34 minutes the previous night. Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier have also missed recent games due to the same stomach bug, Chiang notes. Rozier also sat out Thursday’s game, as did Bam Adebayo. The latter was sidelined by a left knee contusion after posting 27 points, 15 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes the previous night.
- Adebayo expressed exasperation after the late collapse against the Thunder. It was the 13th time this season Miami lost a game after leading by double digits. “It’s one of those things, man, it’s a lesson,” he told Chiang. “But how many times we got to keep learning this lesson? And it’s not just the players, it’s the coaches, as well. We got to understand that we got to all be on the same page.”
- Herro told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel a sense of urgency is required at all times in order for the club to turn things around. “This is important,” he said. “This needs to matter to everybody in this locker room every single day, every single night, every single film session, shootaround, walkthrough, everything. I think that’s something that we also have to continue to improve at. The games aren’t the only thing that matter. Everything matters. Walkthroughs, like I said. And then just taking care of each other, helping each other, spending time with each other. We just need to get on the same page going into these last 30 games.”
- While the addition of Davion Mitchell gave the Heat a much-needed, point-of-attack backcourt defender, they still lack a definitive play-maker, Winderman writes in his latest mailbag. The subtraction of Jimmy Butler adds to the problem because Herro and Adebayo must focus more on scoring than play-making.
Hornets Waive Two-Way Player Isaiah Wong
The Hornets have waived two-way player Isaiah Wong, according to a team press release.
Wong appeared in 20 games with the Hornets this season, averaging 6.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.3 minutes per game. Wong, who also appeared in six G League games this season, signed a two-way contract with the Hornets on Dec. 2. At that time, he agreed to a two-year deal that covered the 2025/26 season as well as the rest of ’24/25.
Charlotte has been tinkering with its roster in recent days. It promoted Moussa Diabate from a two-way deal to a standard contract over the weekend. The Hornets then signed Damion Baugh to a two-way contract on Wednesday.
Due to numerous injuries to rotation players, Wong had appeared in 10 games since Jan. 22. He played 16 minutes on Wednesday against Orlando and scored seven points.
Wong was drafted in the second round in 2023 by Indiana out of Miami (Fla.). He was playing for Utah’s G League team, the Salt Lake City Stars, when the Hornets offered him a contract. With the All-Star break coming up, there’s no immediate need for the Hornets to fill the two-way spot.
Central Notes: Pistons, Cavs, Hunter, Strus, Okafor, Nesmith
The Pistons enter the All-Star break with a 29-26 record, their first winning record heading into the NBA’s annual celebration weekend since 2009. They’ll also carry a four-game winning streak into their next game on Feb. 21. Detroit recorded double-digit victories at Chicago on consecutive nights on Tuesday and Wednesday and currently hold a top-six playoff spot.
“We are pleased with what we have done,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. per Cory Davis of the Detroit News. “From where we came from to where we are now, there have been a lot of tough lessons learned, and that has been the enjoyable part of this. … A lot of growth. We are pleased with it, but we have a lot more work to do.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- With the acquisition of De’Andre Hunter, the Cavaliers essentially have a three-year championship window, as Jason Lloyd of The Athletic explains. The core group of the team is under contract through the 2026/27 season and the Cavs will likely have to exceed the second tax apron to keep it together. If Evan Mobley makes an All-NBA team this season, his max contract will increase and leave them above that level. The penalties for being above the second apron steadily increase if a team remains there for two or more seasons.
- In a subscriber-only story, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com notes that Hunter may not necessarily wind up as a starter. Max Strus has been effective in the starting small forward spot and he’s averaging 15.3 points and 3.8 assists over the last three games.
- Alex Len was reportedly going to sign with the Pacers after he cleared waivers. Instead, he chose to go to the Lakers and the Pacers gave veteran big man Jahlil Okafor a 10-day contract. Okafor had been toiling in the G League with the Indiana Mad Ants. “We’re taking care of our own here. There were other options, but we elected to bring somebody on board that has been with us for the entirety of the Mad Ants season,” coach Rick Carlisle said, per Akeem Glaspie of the Indianapolis Star. “That’s loyalty to show to someone who’s shown loyalty to us, which is great. And I wish him the best.”
- Aaron Nesmith, who opened the season in the Pacers’ starting lineup, reclaimed his spot this week, with Bennedict Mathurin moving back to the second unit. Carlisle said Nesmith provides a different element to the starting five, Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star writes. “It creates a better balance on our team,” Carlisle said. “Benn’s a scorer, and Benn needs to get shots, and we have (Tyrese Haliburton) and Pascal (Siakam) out there to start games. This just makes it work better from an offensive standpoint.”