NBA All-Star 2025 predictions and preview for dunk contest, 3-point shootout, and more

February 14, 2025

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game has a odd new format, a nameless dunk contest and three peats with Damian Lillard in a 3-point shootout. Before the main event begins on Sunday, All-Star Saturday features skill challenges, a 3-point contest and a slam dunk contest from San Francisco's Chase Center.

Yes, the NBA is reclaiming Mac McClung once again with a final ditch effort to bring the dunk contest to life. McClung has won three peats in the dunk contest after winning the competition in 2023 and 2024. He played in a total of five NBA games as he was not drafted in 2021, but now has a two-way contract with Orlando. magic.

Lillard tries to match Larry Bird with Craig Hodges as the only man to win the NBA 3-point contest three times. He will have to defeat four fellow All-Stars on the field, as well as shooting specialists like Buddy Hield, who won the event in 2020.

NBA All-Star Saturday will be down on February 15th. It will air on TNT and will start at 8pm. Preview the field and make predictions about the winners of each event.

2025 NBA Dunk Contest Prediction, Preview, and Time

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest will be the final event of All-Star Saturday. The field has two rookies, one G-League player, and one McClung player, and one former NCAA champion, grown into a defensively oriented benchpiece for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Matas Buzelis, F. Chicago Bulls: Bulls Rookie already knows what it's like to be an All-Star Weekend Hero Hit the winner of the game in last year's Rising Stars game While playing for G League Ignite. In 6'10 he's a little taller than the typical dunk contest winner, but he has a natural bounce from the floor that led to 31 dunks in his first 52 matches of the season. Dunk contest legend Zach Lavigne reportedly worked with his former teammates in his routine, but that won't hurt.

Andre Jackson Jr., G., Milwaukee Bucks: Jackson is the 6'6 guard who helped guide the UConn Husky to the 2023 national championship. The Bucks chose him on the sixth pick in the second round of the draft later that year, and he acquired his way into the Dock Rivers rotation so far in his second season. Jackson can explode from the floor and he feels like he has the best combination of power and athleticism on the scene. He is always fantastic on the open floor and this event shows us his abilities.

Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs won Castle in the 4th overall pick in the 2024 draft after leading UConn to their second back-to-back national championship. The castle is the basic work of Spurs next to Victor Wenbanyama and you will get the opportunity to create your own name at this event. The 6'6 guard is a physical player around the basket, and the game is more functional than flashy. This will be a fun test of his creativity.

Mac McClung, G, Osceola MagicMcClung is a 6'2 guard who stored his high school mixtape legend in a solid college career between Texas Tech and Georgetown. He couldn't make it to the league, but the NBA continues to invite him to dunk contests anyway, and he continues to win. Naitrovinson is the only man in history to win a dunk contest three times. Can McClung tie him up?

2025 NBA Dunk Contest Prediction

Take the buselis. He's so long and skinny that his dunks look cool even if he's tall, and I think he has the personality to become a fan favorite. If he's trying to recreate Lavine's winning dunk contest slamwe'll be taking part in the show.

NBA All-Star Weekend, Indianapolis, Indiana

Predictions, previews and times for the 2025 NBA 3 Points Contest

No, Stephen Curry has not competed in a three-point contest at his home arena. Another warrior has replaced him, and he happens to be one of the most prolific three-point shooters ever. Meet the Field:

Damien Lillard, G, Milwaukee Bucks: Lillado is back in his Auckland native to see if he can make 3 peats in this contest. He's been shooting his best season since the 2020-21 season by scoring 38.2%, 38.2% on 9 or more attempts per game. Lillard is an All-Star Reserve this year, playing at a high level offensively at the age of 34. He is nursing a painful gro diameterhowever, he is still going to compete in the event.

Jalen Brunson, G., New York Knicks: Branson is the Knicks' All-Star starter and continues to shoot covers out of the ball in his third season in New York. Branson hits 39.7%, or 39.7%, on 5.8 attempts per game, averaged around 26 points per night. Branson feels at his best as a shooter when he works himself into rhythm from dribbling that could hurt him at this event.

Darius Garland, G, Cleveland: Garland won his second All-Star nod this year, playing for the East Best Cavs. The 25-year-old is the league's best shooting game, boasting a 3-point stroke of 43.8% on nearly seven attempts per game. His quick trigger should help him in this event.

Cade Cunningham, G, Detroit Pistons: The previous No. 1 overall pick was one of the most improved players in the league this year, and of course his first All-Star. The big lead guard has a piston in the playoff photos and has a mix of his scoring and playmaking. He's not an amazing external shooter, but Cunningham hits 35.3% of the triple on 6.3 attempts per game.

Tyler Hero, G, Miami Heat: Hero earned the first All-Star nod of his career this season, and now Jimmy Butler has traded, he is quickly becoming a franchise player for the Heat. Hero hits 38.8% on nearly 10 attempts per game. He has to take so many difficult three people in Miami, so it'll be fun to see if he can shoot the rack without a defender.

Cameron Johnson, F. Brooklyn Nets: It's a shame Johnson is still stuck in the tanking net after the trade deadline. The 6'9 forward has been in his career season in Brooklyn, averaging 19.2 points per game with 41.7% shooting from the third inning. He is the tallest player on the field and has one of the purest shots in the league.

Buddy Hield, G, Golden State Warriors: There are only 16 players in NBA history who have achieved more careers than Buddy Heald. The 32-year-old doesn't do much else except fire that's far from the depths, but he can buy the game when he gets hot. In his first year with the Warriors, Hield is shooting 37% from Deep. He won the event five years ago.

Norman Powell, G., Los Angeles Clippers: Powell spent his career at the age of 31 and was a legitimate All-Star Snub. Powell, a microwave scorer than pure shooter, fills the gap left by Paul George, and this year he scored an outrageous 24 points per game with 43% shooting from the deep.

Predictions for the 2025 NBA 3-Point Contest

Take Darius Garland to earn a 3-point shootout. Cavs have had an attractive year, and Garland deserves extra recognition after passing through a broken chin last year.

What are the NBA 3 Points Contest Rules?

Each competitor can allocate 70 seconds to the course. There are up to 27 balls in five locations around the court. The “moneyball” is placed at the edge of each rack and is worth two points. There is also one rack full of money balls. Three players with the highest scores from the opening round advance to the championship round. From the NBA: “Like last season's 3-point contest, two more mountain dew zone spots go back to the wings with one ball equivalent to three points.”

For more information about the 3-point contest rules, please see here.

2025 NBA Skills Challenge Prediction, Preview, and Time

Skill challenges allow players to hit half-court shots through shooting, passing, and relay rounds. There are four teams competing and two members per team. Let's meet:

Team Cavs

Darius Garland and Evan Mobley

Team Rookie

Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr

Team Spurs

Victor Wenbanyama and Chris Paul

Team Warriors

Draymond Green and Moses Moody

2025 NBA Skills Contest Rules

The rules for the event are as follows::

• Fire round: There are five different spots on the floor between 10 and 30 feet. Players take photos from each location, and teammates become round. Shots have different values based on location. The player cannot shoot the same shot twice. The winner of the first round will score 100 points towards the team score.

Pass round: Players are passed to a 30-second moving target. The paths have different values based on how difficult they are. “Each team must attempt at least one pass on each target. Individual players cannot make consecutive passes on the same target.” The winning team scores 100 points on the score I will.

Relay Round: There is a relay course that all players on the team must complete. The course is timed and the fastest time wins. The course includes an outlet from the baseline to enter a moving target, a dribbling challenge via a cone, a short shot near the basket, a three-pointer from the corner against the defender, and a full-court sprint score. The winning team will score 200 points in scores.

Final Round – Half Court Shot: Two teams with the highest score advance to the Championship round. Teams should make half court shots as soon as possible. The first team needs to set the time and the second team needs to beat it. The watch can last up to 90 seconds.