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

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game is here with a bizarre new format, a no-name dunk contest, and Damian Lillard going for a three-point shootout three-peat. Before the main event gets underway on Sunday, All-Star Saturday features the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest from the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Yes, the NBA is bringing back Mac McClung again in a last ditch effort to breathe some life into the dunk contest. McClung is going for a three-peat in the dunk contest after winning the competition in 2023 and 2024. He has played in a grand total of five NBA games since going undrafted in 2021, but is currently on a two-way deal with the Orlando Magic.

Lillard will try to match Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only men to ever win the NBA three-point contest three times. He will have to defeat four fellow All-Stars in the field, as well as a shooting specialist like Buddy Hield, who won this event in 2020.

NBA All-Star Saturday goes down on Feb. 15. It will be broadcast on TNT, with festivities beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Let’s preview the field and make predictions on the winner for each event.

2025 NBA dunk contest predictions, preview, and time

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest will be the final event of All-Star Saturday. The field features two rookies, one G-League player in McClung, and one former NCAA champion who developed into a defensive-minded bench piece for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Matas Buzelis, F, Chicago Bulls: The Bulls rookie already knows what it’s like to be an All-Star Weekend hero after hitting a game-winner in the Rising Stars Game last year while playing for the G League Ignite. At 6’10, he’s a little taller than the typical dunk contest winner, but he possess a natural bounce off the floor that’s led to 31 dunks in his first 52 games this season. Dunk contest legend Zach LaVine reportedly worked with his former teammate on his routine, which can’t hurt.

Andre Jackson Jr., G, Milwaukee Bucks: Jackson is a 6’6 guard who helped lead the UConn Huskies to the 2023 national championship. The Bucks selected him with the sixth pick in the second round of the draft later that year, and he’s earned his way into Doc Rivers’ rotation so far in his second season. Jackson can explode off the floor, and feels like he has the best combination power and athleticism in the field. He’s always been fantastic in the open floor, and this event will showcase that ability.

Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs took Castle with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft after he helped lead UConn to its second of back-to-back national championships. Castle is a foundational piece for the Spurs next to Victor Wembanyama, and he’ll get a chance to make a name for himself in this event. The 6’6 guard is a physical player around the basket whose game is more functional than flashy. This will be a fun test of his creativity.

Mac McClung, G, Osceola Magic: McClung is a 6’2 guard who parlayed his status as a mixtape legend in high school to a solid college career between Texas Tech and Georgetown. He hasn’t been able to play his way into the league, but the NBA keeps inviting him to the dunk contest anyway, and he keeps winning. Nate Robinson is the only man in history to win the dunk contest three times. Can McClung tie him?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

2025 NBA dunk contest predictions

I’ll take Buzelis. He’s so long and skinny that his dunks will 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 victorious dunk contest slams, we’re going to be in for a show.

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

2025 NBA three-point contest predictions, preview, and time

No, Stephen Curry isn’t competing in the three-point contest in his home arena. Another Warrior is taking his place, and he just so happens to be one of the most prolific three-point shooters ever, too. Let’s meet the field:

Damian Lillard, G, Milwaukee Bucks: Lilllard is an Oakland native returning to the Bay to see if he can three-peat in this contest. He’s having his best season shooting the ball since the 2020-21 season by making 38.2 percent of his threes on more than nine attempts per game. Lillard is an All-Star reserve this year and is still playing at a high level offensively at age-34. He’s nursing a sore groin, but he’s still scheduled to compete in the event.

Jalen Brunson, G, New York Knicks: Brunson is an All-Star starter for the Knicks, and he continues to shoot the cover off the ball now in his third season in New York. Brunson is hitting 39.7 percent of his threes on 5.8 attempts per game while averaging about 26 points per night. I feel like Brunson is at his best as a shooter when he’s working himself into a rhythm off the dribble, which could hurt him in this event.

Darius Garland, G, Cleveland: Garland earned his second All-Star nod this year playing for the East-best Cavs. The 25-year-old is among the best shooters in the league, boasting a 43.8 percent three-point stroke on nearly seven attempts per game. His quick trigger should serve him well in this event.

Cade Cunningham, G, Detroit Pistons: The former No. 1 overall pick is one of the most improved players in the league this year, and a deserved first-time All-Star. The big lead guard has the Pistons back in the playoff picture his mix of scoring and playmaking. He’s not an amazing outside shooter, but Cunningham is hitting 35.3 percent of his triples on 6.3 attempts per game.

Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat: Herro earned the first All-Star nod of his career this season, and is quickly becoming the Heat’s franchise player now that Jimmy Butler has been traded. Herro is hitting 38.8 percent of his threes on nearly 10 attempts per game. He has to take so many difficult threes in Miami that it will be fun to see how well he can shoot off a rack with no defender.

Cameron Johnson, F, Brooklyn Nets: It’s a shame Johnson is still stuck on the tanking Nets after the trade deadline. The 6’9 forward is having a career season in Brooklyn, averaging 19.2 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting from three. He’s the tallest player in the field, and also has one of the purest shots in the league.

Buddy Hield, G, Golden State Warriors: Only 16 players in NBA history have made more threes in their career than Buddy Hield. The 32-year-old doesn’t do much else aside from fire away from deep, but he can takeover a game when he gets hot. In his first year with the Warriors, Hield is shooting 37 percent from deep. He won this event five years ago.

Norman Powell, G, Los Angeles Clippers: Powell has had a career-year at age-31 and was legitimately an All-Star snub. More of a microwave scorer than a pure shooter, Powell has filled the void left by Paul George to put up a ridiculous 24 points per game this year on 43 percent shooting from deep.

2025 NBA three-point contest predictions

I’ll take Darius Garland to win the three-point shootout. The Cavs are having a charmed year, and Garland deserves the extra recognition after working his way back through a broken jaw last year.

What are NBA three-point contest rules?

Each competitor is allotted 70 seconds for the course. There’s a maximum of 27 balls available in five locations around the court. “Money balls” will be placed at the end of each rack and are worth two points. There will also be one rack full of money balls. The three players with the highest score from the opening round advances to the championship round. From the NBA: “Like last season’s three-point contest, there will also be two Mountain Dew Zone spots further back on the wings with one ball worth three points.”

Read more on the three-point contest rules here.

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images

2025 NBA Skills Challenge predictions, preview, and time

The Skills Challenges puts players through a shooting round, passing round, and relay round — and then makes them hit a halfcourt shot. There are four teams competing, and two members per team. Let’s meet ‘em:

Team Cavs

• Darius Garland and Evan Mobley

Team Rookies

• Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr

Team Spurs

• Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul

Team Warriors

• Draymond Green and Moses Moody

2025 NBA skills contest rules

Here are the rules for the event:

• Shooting round: There will be five different spots on the floor between 10-feet and 30-feet. Players will shoot from each location with their teammates rounding. Shot have different values based on location. Players can’t shoot the same shot twice. The winner of the first round will get 100 points toward their team score.

Passing round: Players will have 30 seconds to pass into three moving targets. The passes will have different values based on how difficult they are. “Each team must make at least one pass attempt at each target, and individual players cannot make consecutive passes at the same target.” The winning team will earn 100 points towards their score.

Relay round: There will be a relay course all players from the team must complete. The course will be timed and fastest time wins. The course includes outlet passing into a moving target from the baseline, a dribbling challenge through cones, a short shot near the basket, a three-pointer from the corner against a defender, and a full court sprint to score. The winning team will earn 200 points to the score.

Final round — half-court shot: The two teams with the highest scores will advance to the championship round. Teams will have to make a halfcourt shot as quickly as possible. The first team will set the time and the second team will have to beat it. The clock will have 90 seconds max.

2025 Skills contest prediction

We’ll take Team Spurs to win with Wemby and CP3.