Sunday Scroll: A shiny, new NBA All-Star Game

Following years of ASG criticism, the NBA decided to shake things up. For the first time, the ASG is actually a mini-tournament consisting of three games: two semifinals and the championship.

• But these aren’t regular NBA games — this is All-Star Weekend, after all. Instead, the winner of each game, including the championship, will be the first team to reach or surpass 40 points.

The league’s 24 All-Stars were drafted onto three teams by TNT’s famous Inside the NBA commentators — hoops legends Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq’s OGs), Charles Barkley (Chuck’s Global Stars), and Kenny Smith (Kenny’s Young Stars).

We know what you’re thinking: What about the fourth squad? The final team will be led by WNBA icon and TNT analyst Candace Parker, whose roster was filled by the winners of Friday’s Rising Stars championship game, which featured the best rookie, sophomore, and G League players. Remember the names.

Before making this year’s edition a mini tournament, one proposed ASG change-up was to make the competition Team USA vs. Team World, pitting the NBA’s best American players against the top international fellas.

• Funny enough, that’s almost exactly how it shook out with Shaq’s OGs and Chuck’s Global Stars. Shaq’s squad is essentially the gold medal-winning American team from the 2024 Paris Olympics, while Chuck’s team boasts hoopers from six different countries. Intriguing.

However, perhaps the most interesting squad is Kenny’s Young Stars, which includes four first-time All-Stars. Will the new guys be eager to prove their mettle against the league’s vets? It’s a bold strategy, Cotton Kenny. Let’s see how it pays off.

• As for Candace’s Rising Stars, best of luck to the kids, but this squad will probably have their hands full going up against Shaq’s team in the semifinal. May the odds be ever in their favor.

💙 Stephen Curry, Shaq’s OGs: New Warrior Jimmy Butler said it best when it comes to hooping with Curry, “pass the ball to Steph and get out of the way.” Why? Well, the 11-time All-Star is one of the most clutch players in league history, knocking down long range shots like it’s his job — because it is. Case in point? He’s dropped eight (!!!) or more threes in an NBA record 87 games.

⚡ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chuck’s Global Stars: SGA’s not only making his third straight All-Star appearance, he’s also vying for his first-ever league MVP, leading the NBA in scoring with a cool 32.6 points per game. And this Canadian kid really knows how to put the ball in the bucket: He dropped a career-high 54 points just last month, his third 50-piece this calendar year. Casual.

🐺 Anthony Edwards, Kenny’s Young Stars: Ant’s not usually the drama, but he sure does love it — almost as much as he loves to compete, and that’s what’s made this spicy superstar an All-Star in three of his first five seasons in the league. Plus, this Timberwolf has been feeling himself lately, netting at least 41 points in three straight games last week.

🖤 Stephon Castle, Candace’s Rising Stars: It’s time to look to the future after Rising Stars MVP Castle led his squad to today’s big show. You already know the kids will be hooping against three stacked squads, so if the young guns want any chance at an upset, this rookie will need to be at his best.

After the All-Star festivities wrap, it’s all eyes on the push for the playoffs. Here are the storylines to watch in the second half of the season:

The blockbuster trade that sent perennial MVP candidate Luka Dončić to the Lakers is still living rent free in everyone’s brains, meaning the spotlight will be on the Purple and Gold (and the Dallas Mavericks, Dončić’s former team) to see how the rest of the drama unfolds.

• For the Lakers, the dynamic duo of Dončić and James had a great debut, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Dallas, who’ve already lost Anthony Davis to the injury report for multiple weeks. Oof.

Other hot topics to keep an eye on? The MVP race. The aforementioned SGA leads the charge and the No. 1 team in the NBA — but the competition is stout, namely reigning MVP (and three-time winner) Nikola “averages a triple-double” Jokić, who’s putting together perhaps the best season of his remarkable career with the Denver Nuggets.

• As for the team trophy, the postseason picture already looks chaotically close. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder sit atop the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, but expect plenty of shuffling before season’s end.