Second-year center Alperen Sengun, rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, and third-year forward KJ Martin will represent the Houston Rockets in three events at the NBA’s 2023 All-Star weekend. Second-year guard Jalen Green was scheduled to, but he no longer will due to the left groin strain that he suffered on Wednesday.
Sengun, Eason, and Smith will play in Friday’s Rising Stars event, while Smith will also participate in Saturday’s Skills Challenge. Martin is one of four NBA players taking part in Saturday’s flagship event — the annual dunk contest to conclude the evening.
With the NBA’s worst record, the young and rebuilding Rockets (13-45) understandably won’t have any representatives in Sunday’s actual All-Star Game. But their widespread representation in many of the other events designed to spotlight the league’s young talent should provide hope that better days are ahead for the franchise.
Here’s a look at specific details for each All-Star event.
Jordan Rising Stars: When and How to Watch
- Date: Friday, Feb. 17
- Time: 8 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: TNT
- Live Stream: TNTdrama.com (limited to 10 minutes if user does not subscribe to a TV provider with TNT)
Kia Skills Challenge: When and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: TNT
- Live Stream: TNTdrama.com (limited to 10 minutes if user does not subscribe to a TV provider with TNT)
AT&T Slam Dunk Contest: When and How to Watch
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
- Time: Approximately 8:45 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: TNT
- Live Stream: TNTdrama.com (limited to 10 minutes if user does not subscribe to a TV provider with TNT)
Rising Stars Teams, Rules
Deron Williams, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol drafted their teams today for 2023 Jordan Rising Stars. Each legend selected seven players from the pool of 21 NBA rookies and sophomores. Jason Terry will lead the team of seven NBA G League players.
The Rising Stars rosters: pic.twitter.com/3OfO7fzSPR
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 7, 2023
Skills Challenge Teams, Rules
The Kia Skills Challenge participants and teams ⬇️
Event format and rules: https://t.co/VAIPdW1jWl pic.twitter.com/ur44fm07JN
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 15, 2023
Dunk Contest Participants, Rules
The AT&T Slam Dunk participants ⬇️
Event format and rules: https://t.co/ablHEJiuxU pic.twitter.com/mPI2q9c0Hd
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 15, 2023
The 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk judges are three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, eight-time WNBA All-Star Lisa Leslie, 14-time NBA All-Star Karl Malone, two-time Slam Dunk champion Harold Miner and nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk champion Dominique Wilkins. https://t.co/nVWPL3rufC pic.twitter.com/28JIJrcf1G
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 15, 2023
