By Katina Handrinos

This NBA season, Boston has been lucky enough to watch the Celtics rise to the top and hold the title of the number one team in the league. The Celtics have dominated this season, and many fans are hopeful of another chance at a championship title. While working as a team is always an important part of the game, there are key players for each team that propel them to success. The NBA All-Star Game is a chance for these players to be showcased in a competitive matchup unlike any other. The question is, who will go head-to-head this year?

This season’s game is set to take place at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, and events will take place during the weekend of February 17 with the All-Star Celebrity Game at 7:00 p.m. on February 17. This event is a chance for fans to see retired NBA and WNBA players and other celebrities compete. At 9:00 p.m., the Rising Stars Challenge will consist of different famous shots taken throughout NBA history that first- and second-year players and select G-League players will attempt. NBA All-Star Saturday on February 18 will include skill challenges, a three-point contest, and a dunk contest at 8:00 p.m. Finally, on February 19, the NBA All-Star Game will start at 8:00 p.m. 

The All-Star Game is a momentous event for the best of the best of the NBA League; past All-Stars have included Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal. For the All-Star Game, one team consists of Eastern Conference players, and the other includes Western Conference players. Fans make up 50% of the final vote for which players will play in the game while current players and media account for 25% each. 

This year, the Eastern Conference team will be led by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Western Conference team by LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. Starters for the Eastern Conference team will be Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. James, Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks, and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans will start for the Western Conference team. The two captains, Antetokounmpo and James, will select the rest of their teams during a draft, which will be held right before the game for the first time.

Winsor Celtics fans were incredibly excited to see their own Jayson Tatum selected for the Eastern Conference team. Cate Ewald ’25 said, “I’m really glad Tatum is an All-Star and I am excited to watch him play!” While she generally enjoys the All-Star weekend, she added, “I wish they played it more like a real game so that we could really see how the top stars all play with and against each other.” Zena Khalifa ’25 commented, “I’m happy Tatum made the cut, but I would’ve loved if Jaylen Brown was on the team too so they could work together.” Make sure to tune in for the All-Star Game and much more!