The NBA will reintroduce the Shooting Stars contest to All-Star Weekend on Feb. 14, marking the event’s first appearance since 2015, the league announced Saturday.
Four three-person squads—each featuring two active players and one retired star—are set for the two-round competition:
- Harper family team: San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, Boston Celtics two-way guard Ron Harper Jr., and their father, five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
- Team All Star: Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren, and former Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton.
- Team Cameron: Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, and retired forward Corey Maggette.
- Team Knicks: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, and former Knicks sharpshooter Allan Houston.
All four teams will attempt shots from seven designated spots within a 70-second window. The two fastest first-round times advance to the final round.
Family affair for the Harpers
Ron Harper said he long predicted spirited matchups between his sons: “I used to always tell Ron Jr., ‘When Dylan gets your size, he’s going to be tough.’”
Dylan, the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft behind Cooper Flagg, and Ron Jr., who entered the NBA in 2022-23 and has appeared with the Raptors and Pistons, have never faced each other in organized play. Both expect to guard one another if the opportunity arises. “It’ll be a good little family affair,” Ron Jr. said.
Busy weekend for the brothers
Before the Shooting Stars contest, the siblings will appear in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game on Feb. 13. Ron Jr. will play for coach Austin Rivers’ squad, while Dylan joins Spurs teammate Stephon Castle on Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony’s team. “It is obviously a blessing just to be in that position,” Dylan said of the selection.
The Shooting Stars event debuted at the 2004 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles but was shelved after the 2015 edition. Its return adds another family-centered storyline to the league’s midseason showcase.
Source: ESPN
