NBA All-Star weekend is quickly approaching, and it’s looking like it will be one for the books!

 

The events kick off Friday, February 17th in Salt Lake City, Utah with the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game followed by the highly anticipated Rising Stars tournament at 9 pm est.

Saturday we have the Kia Skills Challenge, the Starry 3-Point Contest, and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. The events kick off at 8 pm est.

Sunday we will close the weekend with Team Lebron and Team Giannis competing in the 72nd NBA All-Star Game. The draft will start at 7:30 pm and the game is scheduled for 8:30.

Since so many of these matchups are very hard to predict the outcome, my strategy in past years has been to take small numerous bets on the same events.

Let’s break down this NBA All-Star weekend, and see what value we can find in these betting odds.

NBA All-Star Weekend Day #1 – Rising Stars Tournament 

To kick off the weekend the league will be showcasing some of the best young talent including rookies, sophomores, and top G- League prospects. For the second straight year, the Rising Stars event will be played as a three-game mini-tournament. We have some amazing talent at the coaching spots this year with names like – Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, Joakim Noah, and Jason Terry leading the G-Leaguers.

With no surprise, the first overall pick landed Paolo Banchero on team Noah.

The complete rosters and odds are as follows –

Team Pau +175

• Paolo Banchero (Magic)
• Benedict Mathurin (Pacers)
• Jaden Ivey (Pistons)
• Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
• Jose Alvarado (Pelicans)
• Keegan Murray (Kings)
• Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)

Team Joakim +275

• Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
• Josh Giddey (Thunder)
• Jalen Williams (Thunder)
• Jeremy Sochan (Spurs)
• Quentin Grimes (Knicks)
• Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets)
• Jalen Duren (Pistons)

Team Deron +200

• Franz Wagner (Magic)
• Jalen Green (Rockets)
• Alperen Sengun (Rockets)
• Trey Murphy III (Pelicans)
• AJ Griffin (Hawks)
• Bones Hyland (Nuggets)
• Walker Kessler (Jazz)

Team Jason +425 

• Sidy Cissoko (G League Ignite)
• Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite)
• Mojave King (G League Ignite)
• Kenneth Lofton Jr. (Memphis Hustle)
• Mac McClung (Delaware Blue Coats)
• Leonard Miller (G League Ignite)
• Scotty Pippen Jr. (South Bay Lakers)

The betting odds are pretty even outside of Team Jason.

Currently, I’m leaning towards taking the favorite of Team Pau at +175. It will be difficult for any of these teams to stop the likes of Blanchero, Ivey, and Barnes.

My runner-up will be Team Joakin at +275. I like the chemistry of teammates Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams coupled with a 35% 3-point shooter Quinton Grimes and big man Evan Mobley.

Pick #1 – Give me team Pau at +175 or Team Joakim at +127

NBA All-Star Weekend Day #2 – Kia Skills Challenge, 3-Point, and Slam Dunk contest. 

Day number two should be where we find the most value from a bettor stand point. The odds are high and the events are quick. I tend to focus on the latter two events but let’s briefly review the odds for all three.

Skills Contest –

This year will again feature a three-round event showcasing each team’s passing, shooting, and athletic abilities. Round 1 starts off with a team relay, followed by team passing and ending with the team shooting competition. The team to end with the most points will reign as the champion.

This year teams are as follows –

Team Antetokounmpos – Alex, Giannis and Thansis Antetokounmpo +475

Team Jazz – Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton -120

Team Rooks – Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith. +130

I’m certainly leaning toward the hometown favorites to take this one, but this matchup will see much less value than some of our other picks. I think Team Jazz has the best blend of passing, shooting, athleticism, and experience. Plus playing in front of the hometown crowd certainly can’t hurt.

Pick #2 – I’ll take the hometown favorites at -120

Starry 3-Point Contest –

This is one of those events I mentioned in the intro, this will be extremely hard to predict and there is tons of value to be made on this card. I will most likely spread out my bets on this one since any win will yield at least a 3.5x return.

The Current 3-point contests odds are – 

Damian Lillard +450

Anfernee Simons +600

Tyrese Haliburton +500

Buddy Hield +350

Jayson Tatum +550

Kevin Huerter +550

Lauri Markkanen +600

Tyler Herro +675

This is one of the best lines ups we’ve seen in a while and this could really go any way. Currently, the crowd favorite is returning shooter Buddy Hield at +350.

My top nod is going to go to Dame Time at +450. He’s got the experience, skill and shot speed to take this home. Plus with this being his 3rd attempt he knows what the expectations are. I’m predicting the 3rd time to be the charm for Dame.

I will also take smaller-sized bets on Haliburton who has been shooting the 3-ball very well this year averaging 40% from deep, and the homer in me has to take a stab at Jayson Tatum at +550. I think this is unlikely that he wins the whole thing, but the risk-reward is there for this Boston die-hard.

Pick #3 – My favorite to win is Damian Lillard, with Haliburton, Tatum, and current favorite Hield as actionable bets.

AT&T Slam Dunk Contest –

I hate to say I’m a little underwhelmed by the choices for this year’s slam dunk contest, but I’m a little underwhelmed by the choices for this year’s Slam Dunk Contest. I know all four of these guys are true high flyers but we just aren’t seeing the same star power that we have had in years past.

The current odds for the contest are – 

Mac McMclung -100

Jericho Sims +275

Trey Murphy III +350

Kenyon Martin Jr. +400

Right now I’m leaning toward the high-flying favorite of Mac McMclung at even odds. Even with the hate from the casual NBA fan at the lack of star power all 4 of these guys are athletic freaks of nature that can truly throw it down. I also like the value pick of Kenyon Martin at +400.

Pick #4 – Right now I think I will take both Mac McMclung at -100 and a riskier Kenyon Martin at +400

NBA All-Star Weekend Day #3 – Draft and NBA All-Star Game. 

I’m obviously gonna shy away from picking a favorite until we see the draft Sunday evening. For now, I will just give you a preview of the selected players.

For the starters we have –

• LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (captain)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (captain)
• Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
• Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (replaces Kevin Durant as a starter)
• Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (replaces Stephen Curry as a starter)
• Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz (replaces Zion Williamson as a starter)

The reserves are –

• Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
• DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
• Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
• Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
• Julius Randle, New York Knicks
• Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (injury replacement)
• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (injury replacement)
• De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings (injury replacement)
• Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
• Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers
• Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Lineups courtesy of CBSsports.com 

One bet I may look to take is a first-pick prop bet. I’m leaning toward the pack leaders of Luka at +175, Kyrie at +300 and of course my guy Jayson Tatum at +500.

I’m very excited about the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend, and I think there is a lot of money to be made on these lines!

If you want to see how my picks turned out make sure to tune into the first installment of my brand-new podcast The Sports Circle!

Episode number one will be available Sunday afternoon and can be found here on Couchguysports.com.

– @BlairTalksBall

If you like betting content make sure to check out my weekly NBA segment Blair’s Best Bets here