NBA All-Star Saturday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood delivered the weekend’s cleanest competitive edge, three distinct events, three clear winners, and a night that leaned into shot-making, teamwork, and pure lift. The league’s showcase slate featured the State Farm 3-Point Contest, the revived Kia Shooting Stars competition, and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, all staged Saturday, as the marquee lead-in to Sunday’s All-Star Game.
The loudest moment belonged to Damian Lillard, who hasn’t played this season while recovering from an Achilles tear but still stepped into the 3-Point Contest and looked like the same pressure-proof shooter the event is built for. Lillard won the title with 29 points in the final round, edging Devin Booker (27) and rookie Kon Knueppel, and in the process claimed his third career 3-Point crown, a number that ties him with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for the most in contest history.
Between the shooting and the jumping, the night’s most charming throwback was the return of Shooting Stars. Team Knicks — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Knicks alum Allan Houston — won the event, posting 47 points in the final to beat Team Cameron. It was a win that fit the format: quick decisions, rhythm shots, and chemistry that looked a lot like a team that actually plays together, even in a made-for-TV sprint.
Then came the dunk contest, and with three-time champion Mac McClung (forced to) sitting out this year, the spotlight opened for a new name to seize it. Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson did exactly that, beating Carter Bryant in the final round to win the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. Bryant recorded the only 50 of the night, but Johnson’s edge was steadiness and execution across attempts.
Taken together, All-Star Saturday worked because it stayed simple: a shooter’s contest decided by a shooter, a team event won by the team that looked most prepared, and a dunk title earned by the contestant who landed the best total body of work.
