NBA All-Star Weekend is almost here, and it promises to provide ample entertainment, as it does every year. This year the weekend will take place in Cleveland and will feature all of the events that fans have come to enjoy. However, several of the main events have been tweaked by the league, which could confuse those unaware of the changes. Fear not, we’re here to help. Below you’ll find the dates, list of participants and a brief explanation for the weekend’s five biggest events. 

Chlorox Rising Stars

When: Fri. Feb. 18, 9 p.m. ET

TV: TNT

Team Barry

Team Isiah

Team Payton

Team Worthy

How it works: In a new format, 28 players – comprising 12 rookies, 12 sophomores and four members of the NBA G League Ignite developmental squad; see roster above – were drafted onto four teams to compete in three games. Per the NBA, each game will be played to a Final Target Score, ending with a made basket or free throw instead of with the clock running out. It will be a “Race to 75” to celebrate the league’s 75th anniversary season — Games 1 and 2 will be played until a team reaches 50 points; Game 3 will be played until a team reaches 25 points.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge

When: Sat. Feb. 19, 8 p.m. ET  

TV: TNT

Team Rooks

• Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
• Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder

Team Cavs

• Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Team Antetokounmpo

How it works: Three teams — the Antetokounmpo brothers, the Cavaliers and rookies — will compete in a new format that features a four-round competition that tests shooting, passing and dribbling ability. Per the NBA, each of the three teams will compete in the first three rounds of the Taco Bell Skills Challenge. The two teams with the most “Challenge Points” after the first three rounds will advance to the Final Round.  Challenge Points are earned by winning each of the first three rounds. 

Round one is team shooting, round two is team passing, round three is team relay and the final round is half-court shots. 

MTN DEW 3-Point Contest

When: Sat. Feb. 19, 9 p.m. ET  

TV: TNT

Participants: 

• CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
• Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
• Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
• Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
• Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
• Luke Kennard, L.A. Clippers
• Patty Mills, Brooklyn Nets

How it works: The 3-point contest will feature the same format as it has in the past. Per the NBA, each competitor will have 70 seconds (1:10) to shoot as many of the 27 balls as he can, with a maximum possible score of 40 points in a single round.  The three competitors with the highest scores in the first round will advance to the championship round.  The player with the highest score in the championship round will win the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.

AT&T Slam Dunk

When: Sat. Feb. 19, 10 p.m. ET  

TV: TNT

Participants: 

• Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
• Juan Toscano-Anderson, Golden State Warriors
• Obi Toppin, New York Knicks
• Jalen Green, Houston Rockets  

How it works: The dunk contest will follow the same format as it has in the past. Per the NBA, all four competitors will get two dunks in the first round. The two players with the highest combined score for their two dunks will advance to the final round. The two finalists will then get two dunks in the final round. The dunker with the highest combined score for his two dunks in the final round will win. 

71st NBA All-Star Game 

When: Sun. Feb. 20, 8 p.m. ET  

TV: TNT

Team LeBron

Team Durant

How it works: Team LeBron and Team Durant will go head-to-head to determine the winner of the 2022 NBA All-Star game. For the third straight season, the NBA will utilize the ‘Elam Ending’ for the annual exhibition, which means that the game will end when a team hits a target score, as opposed to when the clock ticks down to zero. The target score is typically determined by adding a fixed number to the leading team’s total after three quarters of action. Whichever team hits that score first wins the game, regardless of how long it takes.