NBA All-Star Weekend is finally here and will take place in San Francisco at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.
There are few events that are more fun for casual sports bettors to wager on than the slam dunk and 3-point contests, with those two events regularly overshadowing the underwhelming All-Star Game (which is revamped this year).
Damian Lillard to win 3-Point Contest
NBA All-Star Saturday night will get underway at 8 p.m. ET, headlined by the 3-point and slam dunk contests.
Let’s take a look at the odds being offered at online sportsbooks and some of the best bets for both of these exciting events.
3-point contest odds
| Player | Odds (bet365) |
| Damian Lillard | +375 |
| Darius Garland | +500 |
| Norman Powell | +500 |
| Buddy Hield | +550 |
| Tyler Herro | +600 |
| Jalen Brunson | +700 |
| Cameron Johnson | +800 |
| Cade Cunningham | +1000 |
It’s not surprising to see Lillard with the shortest odds here as he goes for a third consecutive 3-Point Contest title, which would tie Larry Bird and Craig Hodges for the most all time. The 34-year-old guard is still stroking it well from long range this season, shooting 38.2% from deep, slightly higher than his career average (37.1%).
Garland could be a solid bet at +500 if you believe that regular season numbers translate to success in this event. He has the highest 3-point shooting percentage (43.8%) of any player in the competition this season.
You could also make a case for Buddy Hield, the 2020 3-point king, at +550.
If you’re looking for a potential dark horse to back, considering Cameron Johnson (+800), who is shooting 41.7% from deep when holding the ball from 0-2 seconds this season. A quick release is a huge clutch in this type of competition, and Johnson is used to firing quickly at a high percentage.
Pick: It’s hard to look past Lillard in his bid for history and 3-point immortality. He should be motivated to achieve the milestone, and it would likely take another shooting legend (like Steph Curry in his home arena) to steal the spotlight away from ‘Dame Dolla’ on Saturday night.
Dunk contest odds
It’s a shame that we never see any big names in the dunk contest these days, as this year’s field once again lacks star power. However, much like the 3-point competition, we have a competitor seeking a third straight title: Mac McClung. The G-League player is dunking for the first ever three-peat in event history, and he’s a heavy favourite at -225 over the rest of the unproven field.
Stephon Castle to win Slam Dunk Contest
If you’re looking for a dark horse, consider rookie Stephon Castle, who could involve teammate Victor Wembanyama as part of his dunk arsenal. If he can somehow find a way to dunk over his 7-foot-3 San Antonio Spurs teammate, if has the potential to send the crowd, and the judges, into a frenzy. He’s also a pretty solid dunker in his own right. If there’s anyone in the field that can dethrone McClung, it’s Castle.
