The NBA?s annual dunk fest, otherwise known as the All-Star Game, should have plenty of excitement and interesting sub-plots as the players get set to entertain the fans in Denver this weekend.

The festivities begin Friday, February 18, with the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge headlined by league MVP candidate LeBron James and the 2004 number one pick, Dwight Howard. The game features the NBA?s up and coming stars, pinning the rookies up against the sophomores. Also making the trip to Denver to compete for the sophomore team are rising stars Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors, and Denver?s own Carmello Anthony. Teaming up with Howard for the rookies are such players as Ben Gordon, Andre Iguodala, and Atlanta Hawks high flyer Josh Smith. The Chicago Bulls are sending the most representatives to the game with three, while the Boston Celtics are the only other team to send more than one player with two. As always, it is expected to be a high scoring, high excitement, and low defense affair.

On Saturday night, the Skills Competition, headed by the always anticipated Slam Dunk competition, gets under way. This year’s group is headed by Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, New Orleans Hornets center Chris Anderson and a pair of rookies in Josh Smith and J.R. Smith. The lack of any marquee players has taken some of the lustre out of the competition of late, but it seems that every year there is at least one or two special players who step up and provide the fans with something unique that brings them to their feet; and this year should be no exception.

Finally, after a long weekend and much anticipation, the big boys come out to play. With the trade of Shaquille O?Neal to the Miami Heat, the game should be more balanced than in recent years, providing the Eastern Conference with a legitimate post player. Joining O?Neal in the starting line-up for the East are Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Allen Iverson and LeBron James.

Joining the Houston Rockets’ seven-foot-six center Yao Ming on the Western Conference team will be two-time champion Tim Duncan, reigning league MVP Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Yao?s teammate Tracy McGrady. Following the trend of recent years, the West is again stacked with superior size and athleticism and should be able to overpower the smaller Eastern Conference All-Stars.

Overall it looks like the weekend will be a fun filled affair showcasing the league’s best players and rising stars.






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