CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — With All-Star festivities set to officially begin Friday, here are 10 things to know going into the weekend:BACK TO CHARLOTTECharlotte hosted NBA All-Star weekend in 1991, and now gets it back a second time to join 14 other cities that can say it hosted the league's showcase midseason event on multiple occasions.Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, Los Angeles and the L.A. suburb of Inglewood, California, are the other previous multi-hosting All-Star cities.The Bay Area, the Detroit area and the Dallas area are also two-time hosts, though never technically twice in the same city.LEBRON'S RECORDSLeBron James now has the record for most All-Star captaincies: Two. He and Stephen Curry had the jobs last year when the captain's format was first introduced to the All-Star weekend, and he and Giannis Antetokounmpo have the jobs this year.But James' records revolving around this game hardly stop... [More]

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.THURSDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Dwyane and DirkDALLAS _ Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki accepted honorary All-Star roles to help the NBA celebrate two long and decorated careers. It should also be a chance for the two-time Finals foes to go out on amicable terms after a shared history that Nowitzki acknowledged was “frosty” at times. Wade has already said this is his final season, and all signs point to Nowitzki hanging up his sneakers after setting a league record by spending all 21 of his seasons with the same franchise. By Schuyler Dixon. Sent: 800 words, photosFRIDAYBKN--All-Star-Curry Family WeekendCHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Stephen and Seth Curry are returning to their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina for the NBA All-Star weekend. Stephen, a two-time league MVP, will join... [More]

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.WEDNESDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Stepback 3-PointerJames Harden has relied on it to become the NBA’s most unstoppable scorer. Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. So how come more players aren’t using the step-back 3-pointer? Well, it’s fundamentally flawed, sometimes doesn’t even look legal, and even Stephen Curry says it’s tough to make. So it’s unclear whether the shot is a luxury for some, or will become a necessity for all in today’s 3-point happy game. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. Sent: 850 words, photos by 5 a.m.THURSDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Dwyane and DirkDALLAS _ Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki accepted honorary All-Star roles to help the NBA celebrate two long and decorated careers. It should also be a chance for the two-time... [More]

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.TUESDAYBKN—All-Star Game-Jordan’s JourneyCHARLOTTE, N.C. _ As college roommates Michael Jordan and Buzz Peterson would spend their nights shooting pool, tossing cards and playing arcade games at the University of North Carolina. Looking back, Peterson said he never could have imagined Jordan would become so successful and wealthy that he would go on to buy an NBA franchise and have the honor of hosting an All-Star game in his home state. By Steve Reed. Sent: 900 words, file photosWEDNESDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Stepback 3-PointerJames Harden has relied on it to become the NBA’s most unstoppable scorer. Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. So how come more players aren’t using the step-back 3-pointer? Well, it’s fundamentally flawed, sometimes doesn’t even... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Buzz Peterson knew Michael Jordan as well as anyone when they were in college.Roommates and teammates at North Carolina, they spent countless days competing on the basketball court in practice and endless hours talking hoops. Their nights often included shooting pool and tossing cards in their Granville Towers South dorm room. There often were arcade games — before the home video game craze hit — at the Pump House on Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill.But Peterson never saw this coming: His roommate becoming an NBA owner and hosting the league's All-Star game in his home state of North Carolina."You know, staring across the dorm room at him back then, no, I never would have thought this would happen," Peterson told The Associated Press.Jordan didn't either."Frankly, no," Jordan said Tuesday in a news conference previewing the All-Star game. "Growing back up as a kid here in North Carolina, the first thing is play basketball. Then things just evolved from there."While... [More]

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.MONDAYBKN--All-Star-Shoe FashionCHARLOTTE, N.C. _ The NBA All-Star game is coming up this weekend which means players will be unveiling some new shoes for the big game. It seems each pair has its own meaning, whether it's a tribute to cancer survivors, a tip of the hat to Charlotte's auto racing history or a story of how they got in trouble at a local college. By Steve Reed. SENT: 900 words, photos_ With BKN--All-Star-Shoe Fashion-ListBKN--All-Star-Hi-Tech ShoeNike's latest performance basketball shoe, from concept to reality, took about three years to put together. Or 30 years, depending on how you count. The Nike Adapt BB _ a self-lacing smart shoe that can be controlled by a smartphone _ gets released to the public on Sunday, a date that just happens to coincide with the NBA All-Star... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NBA players will breakout special shoes this weekend during the All-Star game. Here a list of who will be wearing what:NIKEGiannis Antetokounmpo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Khris Middleton, Dirk Nowitzki, Ben Simmons, Nikola VucevicJORDAN BRANDLaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Victor Oladipo, Kemba Walker, Russell WestbrookADIDASJames Harden, Damian Lillard, Kyle LowryUNDER ARMOURStephen Curry, Joel EmbiidNEW BALANCEKawhi LeonardANTAKlay ThompsonLI-NINGDwyane Wade___Source: NBA___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kemba Walker is preparing for his third NBA All-Star game — and his first as a starter — this weekend on his home court in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he once shouted "This is my city!" after a game-winning shot.The big question is how many more he'll play in as a member of the Hornets.The eight-year NBA veteran is set to become one of several All-Star free agents in July and will surely be an attractive option for more than a few teams.On the surface, it seems like Walker re-signing a long-term deal is a no-brainer — he has repeatedly stated his desire to continue playing for the Hornets, and the organization wants him back.But there are other factors at play.For the highly competitive Walker, he hasn't much of a supporting cast and he's only been to the playoffs twice in his previous seven seasons, losing both times to the Miami Heat in the first round. So the chance of going to an established winning team before too much of his career slips away could be luring.The... [More]

LeBron James finally has Anthony Davis as a teammate.For one game.His Los Angeles Lakers were unable to swing a deal for Davis, but James drafted the New Orleans Pelicans star on Thursday when he and fellow captain Giannis Antetokounmpo sat down to choose their teams for the Feb. 17 All-Star Game in Charlotte.Davis told the Pelicans he wanted a trade, and James has made it clear that he'd love to play with him. But the Pelicans kept Davis as the trade deadline passed, so for now, their time as teammates will be limited to All-Star weekend and James pounced at the chance to grab him with the second pick of the reserve round."I'm very sure of that," James said, when asked by TNT host Ernie Johnson if he was sure he wanted Davis as a teammate."Isn't that tampering?" Antetokounmpo asked.Responded James, as both players laughed: "Tampering rules do not apply on All-Star weekend," a thinly veiled reference to the reaction James got when he listed Davis as one of many players he would like the... [More]

LeBron James finally has Anthony Davis as a teammate.For one game.His Los Angeles Lakers were unable to swing a deal for Davis, but James drafted the New Orleans Pelicans star on Thursday when he and fellow captain Giannis Antetokounmpo sat down to choose their teams for the Feb. 17 All-Star Game in Charlotte.Davis told the Pelicans he wanted a trade, and James has made it clear that he'd love to play with him. But for now, their time as teammates will be limited to All-Star weekend.James chose Kevin Durant with the No. 1 overall pick, as he did last year in the All-Star draft, to be one of his starters. They'll be joined in the Team LeBron starting five by Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Team Giannis, in addition to Antetokounmpo, will start Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Paul George and hometown favorite Kemba Walker.Antetokounmpo took his Milwaukee teammate Khris Middleton with the first pick in the reserve round, along with Nikola Jokic, Ben Simmons, Blake Griffin, D'Angelo... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Devin Booker is ready to take on the Curry brothers.The Phoenix Suns guard will look to defend his NBA All-Star 3-point championship from a year ago against brothers Stephen and Seth Curry on Feb. 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stephen Curry, who plays for the Golden State Warriors, won the event in 2015 while brother Seth, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, is competing in his first 3-point contest.Charlotte's Kemba Walker, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Portland's Damian Lillard, Milwaukee's Khris Middleton, Toronto's Danny Green, Brooklyn's Joe Harris and Sacramento's Buddy Hield round out the 10-player field.The 3-point contest will held on the same night as the dunk contest and the skills challenge at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets.The dunk contest features Charlotte's Miles Bridges, Oklahoma City's Hamidou Diallo, Atlanta's John Collins and New York Knicks' Dennis Smith Jr.The skill challenge includes first-time NBA All-Stars Nikola Jokic... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns will look to defend his 3-point contest title at the NBA All-Star game against brothers Stephen and Seth Curry on Feb. 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina.Charlotte's Kemba Walker, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Portland's Damian Lillard, Milwaukee's Khris Middleton, Toronto's Danny Green, Brooklyn's Joe Harris and Sacramento's Buddy Hield round out the 10-player field.The dunk contest features Charlotte's Miles Bridges, Oklahoma City's Hamidou Diallo, Atlanta's John Collins and New York Knicks' Dennis Smith Jr.The skill challenge includes first-time NBA All-Stars Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets and Nikola Vucevic of the Magic and Luka Doncic of the Mavericks. Atlanta's Trae Young, Memphis' Mike Conley, Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox, Los Angele Lakers' Kyle Kuzma and Boston's Jayson Tatum will also compete.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

New Orleans has an All-Star for the sixth straight year.That is, unless he gets traded first.Pelicans standout Anthony Davis — only three days removed from having his trade request made known publicly — was one of the 14 players announced Thursday as reserves for the All-Star Game in Charlotte. Davis wants to be swapped out of New Orleans by the Feb. 7 trade deadline, so it remains unclear if his uniform for the All-Star contest on Feb. 17 will bear a Pelicans logo or not.It's the sixth consecutive All-Star nod for Davis. The Pelicans aren't sure if he'll play for them again, though there's also no guarantee that he gets traded by next week either."That's something that will obviously have to be discussed about what's best for him and what's best for our team," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.The other Western Conference reserves were Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Denver's Nikola Jokic, Portland's Damian Lillard, Golden State's Klay Thompson, San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge and Minnesota's... [More]

New Orleans has an All-Star for the sixth straight year.That is, unless he gets traded first.Pelicans standout Anthony Davis — only three days removed from having his trade request made known publicly — was one of the 14 players announced Thursday as reserves for the All-Star Game in Charlotte. Davis wants to be swapped out of New Orleans by the Feb. 7 trade deadline, so it remains unclear if his uniform for the All-Star contest on Feb. 17 will bear a Pelicans logo or not.It's the sixth consecutive All-Star nod for Davis. The Pelicans aren't sure if he'll play for them again, though there's also no guarantee that he gets traded by next week either."That's something that will obviously have to be discussed about what's best for him and what's best for our team," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.The other Western Conference reserves were Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Denver's Nikola Jokic, Portland's Damian Lillard, Golden State's Klay Thompson, San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge and Minnesota's... [More]

New Orleans has an All-Star for the sixth straight year.That is, unless he gets traded first.Pelicans standout Anthony Davis — only three days removed from having his trade request made known publicly — was one of the 14 players announced Thursday as reserves for the All-Star Game in Charlotte. Davis wants to be swapped out of New Orleans by the Feb. 7 trade deadline, so it remains unclear if his uniform for the All-Star contest on Feb. 17 will bear a Pelicans logo or not.The other Western Conference reserves were Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Denver's Nikola Jokic, Portland's Damian Lillard, Golden State's Klay Thompson, San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge and Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns.Indiana's Victor Oladipo was selected as one of the Eastern Conference reserves, even though his season is over because of injury. The other reserves from the East were Toronto's Kyle Lowry, Milwaukee's Khris Middleton, Philadelphia's Ben Simmons, Washington's Bradley Beal, Detroit's Blake Griffin... [More]

The Golden State Warriors don't just have streaks.They have streaks of streaks.Golden State has won 10 straight games, the longest winning streak in the NBA this season. And that makes this the sixth consecutive season that the Warriors have had a double-digit streak of victories — which ties San Antonio for the longest such run in league history. The Spurs had a 10-game streak in every season from 2010-11 through 2015-16.That said, here come the champs, again.Golden State is back atop the West, and in the mix with Milwaukee and Toronto for the NBA's best record. The stretch where the Warriors lost four straight and six of nine earlier this season, prompting whispers that the reigning back-to-back champions are vulnerable, seems long forgotten."We've got an edge about us," Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. "It hasn't been perfect and we know we can still get better, but we've talked about putting a run together for a while now and we're right in the middle of a really good one. We want... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The NBA's All-Star weekend is shaping up to be quite the family affair, with the Curry brothers facing each other in the 3-point contest.Stephen Curry told ESPN he and brother Seth Curry of the Portland Trail Blazers will square off Feb. 16 in Charlotte, their hometown.The Golden State star says the contest will be fun, but he knows his brother is "going to be gunning for me, though. That's the problem."The NBA has not released the full field of competitors for the All-Star Saturday Night events. This will be the sixth time Stephen Curry has been in the contest and the first for Seth Curry. Their father, Dell Curry, was a two-time participant.In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Dell Curry said his two sons love to compete at just about anything — and it's impossible to say who's more competitive."At my daughter's wedding we played liar's dice for about two hours — and that was the most competitive thing I have seen in a long time," he said with a... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The NBA's All-Star weekend is shaping up to be quite the family affair, with the Curry brothers facing each other in the 3-point contest.Stephen Curry told ESPN he and brother Seth Curry of the Portland Trail Blazers will square off Feb. 16 in Charlotte, their hometown.The Golden State star says the contest will be fun, but he knows his brother is "going to be gunning for me, though. That's the problem."The NBA has not released the full field of competitors for the All-Star Saturday Night events. This will be the sixth time Stephen Curry has been in the contest and the first for Seth Curry. Their father, Dell Curry, was a two-time participant.In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Dell Curry said his two sons love to compete at just about anything — and it's impossible to say who's more competitive."At my daughter's wedding we played liar's dice for about two hours — and that was the most competitive thing I have seen in a long time," he said with a... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hornets point guard Kemba Walker can't imagine what the atmosphere will be like when he's introduced as an NBA All-Star game starter next month on his home court."I haven't given it any thought, but I'm sure it will be an unbelievable moment being that the game is in Charlotte," Walker said. "I've been here for eight years now, so it's going to be crazy."The 28-year-old Walker was named to the All-Star team for the third time Thursday, but it was his first selection as a starter.He becomes another big story line for the All-Star weekend, along with Stephen Curry returning to the city where he grew up, and former North Carolina college basketball star and current Hornets owner Michael Jordan hosting the game in his own state.Walker didn't win the fan vote, finishing third among Eastern Conference guards behind Kyrie Irving and Dwayne Wade. It was the media and his fellow NBA players — both picked him second, ahead of Wade — that got him over the top and earned him... [More]

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is a captain and an All-Star starter — again.Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will choose his own teammates as the other captain.And Hornets guard Kemba Walker is about to make his first All-Star start, on his home floor in Charlotte.While there were perhaps mild surprises, there were no real stunners during Thursday night's unveiling of the starters for the NBA All-Star Game that will be played in Charlotte on Feb. 17. James and Antetokounmpo are captains, their perk for being the leading vote-getters out of the Western and Eastern Conferences, and nine of this year's 10 starters have been chosen to begin All-Star Games in the past.Walker is the lone exception, and broke into a smile when realizing he was a pick."It's kind of surreal," Walker told TNT during the broadcast to announce the starters.The starting guards from the East are Boston's Kyrie Irving and Walker. The East frontcourt picks were Antetokounmpo, Toronto's Kawhi Leonard... [More]