NBA All-Star weekend is an event unlike any other, and this year's event is sure to be entertaining. Some of the most anticipated events of All-Star weekend actually come the night before the exhibition game when we see players battle it out for supremacy in the Dunk Contest, 3-Point Shootout and Skills Challenge.
These contests all take place Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Staples Center in L.A. The Skills Challenge is the first event, starting at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the 3-Point Shootout and then the Dunk Contest to cap off the night. All three event will be broadcast on TNT and live-streamed via Watch TNT.
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The participants for each event have finally been revealed. Here's what you need to know ahead of All-Star weekend.
Dunk Contest participants, rules
The highlight event of the night is always a must-see for NBA fans. And while many long for the year when LeBron James faces off against Russell Westbrook, there are still plenty of exciting faces to keep us glued to our TVs on Saturday night.
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The 2018 Dunk Contest features four dunkers who face off in two rounds. After the first round, the judges eliminate two of the four to set up a final dunk-off with the winner decided by the judges.
Here are the participants for the Dunk Contest. (Gordon will not be able to participate in this year's contest after withdrawing with a hip injury. The NBA has announced Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell will replace Gordon.)
| 2018 Dunk Contest |
| Aaron Gordon, Magic (injured) |
| Victor Oladipo, Pacers |
| Dennis Smith Jr., Mavericks |
| Larry Nance Jr., Cavs |
| Donovan Mitchell, Jazz (replacing Gordon) |
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Last year's Dunk Contest final saw the Pacers' Glenn Robinson III take down Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. in a battle of two lesser-known players, but the dunks still lived up to the hype.
3-Point Shootout participants, rules
The 3-Point Shootout doesn't get the same attention as the Dunk Contest, but it is riveting in its own right. The Shootout pits eight players against each other with each one shooting five racks of balls set up along the 3-point line with the goal of knocking down as many 3s as possible. Each rack also includes a money ball that is worth an extra point. The players also get one rack full of money balls that can be set up at the spot of their choosing.
Here are the participants for the 3-Point Shootout:
| 2018 3-Point Shootout |
| Eric Gordon, Rockets |
| Klay Thompson, Warriors |
| Kyle Lowry, Raptors |
| Devin Booker, Suns |
| Paul George, Thunder |
| Bradley Beal, Wizards |
| Tobias Harris, Clippers |
| Wayne Ellington, Heat |
The 2017 3-point contest winner was Rockets guard Eric Gordon, who knocked out the likes of Thompson, Kyrie Irving and Kyle Lowry.
Skills Challenge participants, rules
Saturday night's first event is the Skills Challenge, which splits eight players — four big men and four wings/guards — into two separate brackets with bigs facing bigs and guards facing guards. Participants compete by racing through an obstacle course to see who can finish faster. The winner of each side then faces off in a final showdown to see who takes home the title of NBA Skills Challenge champion.
Here is who you will see in this year's Skills Challenge:
| 2018 Skills Challenge |
| Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks (injured) |
| Joel Embiid, Sixers |
| Al Horford, Celtics |
| Lauri Markkanen, Bulls |
| Lou Williams, Clippers |
| Donovan Mitchell, Jazz (out for Dunk Contest) |
| Jamal Murray, Nuggets |
| Spencer Dinwiddie, Nets |
| Buddy Hield, Kings (replacing Mitchell) |
| Andre Drummond, Pistons (replacing Porzingis) |
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Surprisingly, the big men have fared well since becoming part of the challenge, as Karl-Anthony Towns (2016) and Kristaps Porzingis (2017) have won the last two events.