Your Guide To NBA All-Star Events In Salt Lake City (And How To Get Tickets)
Jan 13, 2023, 3:40 PM | Updated: Feb 17, 2023, 10:11 am
SALT LAKE CITY – NBA All-Star weekend is in Salt Lake City for the 2022-2023 season! The last time Utah was the home to All-Star festivities was 30 years ago in 1993.
In the 1993 All-Star game, the two hometown players, John Stockton and Karl Malone, notoriously shared the All-Star Game MVP award.
Your Guide To NBA All-Star Events On Friday
NBA All-Star Weekend
All-Star weekend has been a part of NBA tradition for decades. The first ever All-Star game was held in 1951 in Boston.
The game was always an East vs. West affair until 2018. The NBA changed the format to have two captains lead the two teams. The leading vote-getter from each conference becomes the captain of a squad and eventually drafts their team from the pool of 24 players.
The weekend consists of three days with key events held on each day. Each day is more exciting than the last, leading up to the All-Star game on the third day.
All-Star weekend has brought iconic NBA moments and memories to basketball fans for over 70 years. This year, Salt Lake City gets to be the host.
As we gear up for the @NBA All Star Game next month, take a look back at the last time this Game was hosted in #SLC – back in 1993! 🏀 https://t.co/20045ZEFOg
— Salt Lake City Government (@SLCgov) January 13, 2023
What Are The Events And How Can I Get Tickets
Free All-Star Attractions
If you’re trying to enjoy the All-Star festivities without breaking the bank, we got you covered.
The Utah Transit Authority is offering ten ‘zero fare’ days, February 12-21, during NBA All-Star week. This includes FrontRunner, TRAX, and all bus services including Ski Bus, Paratransit, and UTA On-Demand.
The Gateway has various pop-up shops for All-Star weekend. There will be All-Star decorations and other preparations near Vivint Arena as well.
Ice Buckets Challenge At Trolley Square
Fans can head to Trolley Square for the ‘Ice Buckets’ Challenge! Contestants have 30 seconds to make as many shots as possible on five hoops. Tickets, merch, and more are on the line!
🧊 NBA Ice Buckets is 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 🧊
Head down to Trolley Square for the free-to-play, shooting challenge where you can with tickets, merch, and more. To participate, fans must register through the NBA Events App!#NBAAllStar | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/2rzqeakzkL
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 2, 2022
See our experience at the Ice Buckets Challenge and get more information here.
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Grit Rail Jam
On Friday, Feb. 17 from 2-5 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 18 from 3-6 p.m., snowboarding contests will be held at Gateway’s Olympic Plaza. Amateurs will go on Friday. Professionals and the best of the amateurs will go on Saturday. The event is presented by the Utah Sports Commission, Utah Jazz, and Cactus Jack.
All-Star Block Parties
On Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19, American Express will be hosting block parties with live streams of the All-Star action in Vivint Arena. They will run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 79 South Rio Grande Street. An excellent option if you cant get tickets. A number of All-Stars that will be popping by throughout the weekend, including first-time NBA All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, top rookie Jaden Ivey, Utah Jazz legend Carlos Boozer, and Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo.
Tickets, Entry Cost Required
All-Star Celebrity Game
Friday, February 17, is the first day of NBA All-Star weekend. Earlier in the day, there will be the NBA Rising Stars Practice (12:30 p.m.) and Basketball Hall of Fame News Conference (3:30 p.m.). Both will be televised on NBA TV.
At 5 p.m., the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will kick-off the weekend. This game features two teams comprised of various celebrities. From actors to singers and WNBA players to Olympians. Some notable celebrities who have competed in the game in the past are Usain Bolt, Kevin Hart, Justin Bieber, and Michael B. Jordan.
Tickets for the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game are available here.
Rising Stars Challenge
The NBA Rising Stars Challenge is on Friday after the Celebrity Game, at 7 p.m.
This game features all of the best first-year and second-year players in the association going head-to-head. In past years, the game has been played as ‘Rookies vs. Sophomores’ and ‘Team USA vs. Team World’. After a format change last season, it is now a tournament-style event with scoring goals in each round. The game features 12 rookies, 12 sophomores, and 4 NBA G League Ignite players.
Tickets for the NBA Rising Stars Challenge are available here.
NBA x HBCU Classic
Saturday, February 18, is the second day of NBA All-Star weekend. The day opens with NBA All-Star Practice and Media Availability (11 a.m.).
Tickets for the NBA All-Star Practice are available here.
At 2 p.m., the NBA x HBCU Classic will take place at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus. The Grambling State University and Southern University men’s basketball programs have been selected to play in the HBCU Classic.
#NBAAllStar is coming to the Huntsman Center!!
⭐️ All-Star Practice
⭐️ All-Star Celebrity Game
⭐️ NBA HBCU Classic
⭐️ @nbagleague Next Up GameBe There: https://t.co/K6yIqvuZ6N@NBAAllStar | @utahjazz pic.twitter.com/VrvPeo6xfn
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) January 9, 2023
The game will be broadcast on TNT, ESPN2 and NBA TV. Tickets for the NBA x HBCU Classic are available here.
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night
All-Star Saturday Night is on Saturday at 6 p.m.
All-Star Saturday Night features three events. The Skills Challenge, the 3-point Contest, and the Dunk Contest.
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The Skills Challenge features players, separated by positions, racing through a course that tests their ability to dribble, pass, and shoot effectively. Two Jazz players have won the event in its 20-year history, Deron Williams in 2008 and Trey Burke in 2014.
Deron Williams breaks the NBA Skills Challenge record with a time of 25.5 seconds. The old record was held by Steve Nash with 25.8 seconds. (2008) pic.twitter.com/oA8LWW7sYG
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) February 15, 2019
The 3-point Contest features the leagues best shooters competing to make as many 3-pointers as possible in one-minute. Five racks, and two extra balls set further back, are set up across the arc for the players to shoot from. One Utah Jazz player has taken home the three-point crown in the events 37-year history. Jeff Hornacek won in 1998 and in 2000.
#TBT…current @Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek won the 1998 Three-Point Contest trophy at #NBAAllStarNYC. pic.twitter.com/42dAd7bADi
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 5, 2015
The Dunk Contest features the leagues high-fliers attempting to impress the fans and, more importantly, the judges with spectacular dunks. Players can use props to wear, use, or jump over for extra style points. Two Jazz players have become slam dunk champions, Donovan Mitchell in 2018 and Jeremy Evans in 2012.
Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell ) is the 2nd @UtahJazz to win the NBA Dunk Contest!
Former Jazz competitors:
Jeremy Evans (W)
Deshawn Stevenson
Jamie Watson
David Benoit
Blue Edwards
Darrell Griffith pic.twitter.com/mFbV3ik7Cc— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 18, 2018
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will broadcast on TNT. Tickets are available on third-party, resale websites, but that comes with its own risk, so consider carefully before purchasing. KSL does not endorse any ticket resell platforms.
72nd NBA All-Star Game
Sunday, February 19, is the third day of NBA All-Star weekend. Earlier in the day, there will be the NBA Legends Awards (11 a.m.) and the NBA G League Next Up Game (1 p.m.).
Both will broadcast on NBA TV. Tickets for the NBA G League Next Up Game are available here.
At 6 p.m., the NBA All-Star Game will begin. The All-Star game is the staple of All-Star weekend. The game features the leagues best players (voted on by the fans, media, and coaches) competing in a star-studded showcase. The game typically features enough highlights to leave any fan satisfied.
❄️ It’s time the 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 becomes an 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 ❄️
Your vote counts 𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑷𝑳𝑬 today 🌟 https://t.co/X4WJXzIrma#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/xXtC52GDLG
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 13, 2023
Tickets for the 72nd NBA All-Star Game can be found here.
All-Star Weekend Night Life
Donovan Mitchell will be holding a comedy event hosted by stand-up comedian and actor DeRay Davis. Chris Spencer and Earthquake will also make appearances. All of the proceeds from the event will go to Kearns High School. More information here.
Salt Lake City Live and Park City Live are bringing all-star weekend shows to the Union Event Center on Friday, February 17th, and Saturday, February 18th. Shaquille O’Neal will DJ on Saturday and 21 Savage will be performing on Friday.
🚨🎫ON SALE NOW!!🎫🚨
🏀All Star Weekend 2023
DIESEL aka Shaquille O’Neal ➕DJ IRIE ➕ Surprise Special Guests💯
🎫Tickets – https://t.co/JQGE0lAgjx
VIP Booth – [email protected] ☎️ (702) 860-7766
🚪Doors – 9pm
📍Union Event Center pic.twitter.com/AfgCBvUYL4— Salt Lake City Live (@SLCLiveUtah) January 28, 2023
The Cactus Jack Concert Series will take place at The Depot on February 17-18. Don Toliver and Sheck Wes will be performing. The concert series will begin at 8 p.m. on both days at 13 North 400 West at The Gateway. Tickets will go on sale at this link starting Friday, Feb. 3.
Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.
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