The NBA All-Star Game is coming to Indianapolis this year, and it’s less than two weeks away. With the game itself comes All-Star Saturday Night, a festival of skills that provides great fun for fans, a chance for the league’s biggest names to show off, and the possibility for hidden stars to emerge, as was the case last year when Mac McClung stole America’s hearts in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Part of the Indiana Pacers’ quest this season has been to bring more of such a spotlight onto their organization as a destination for those serious about winning basketball games. All-Star Weekend gives them an opportunity to do just that in a variety of ways. Yes, point guard Tyrese Haliburton will be starting for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game itself, but All-Star Saturday Night brings a chance to put other stars in the spotlight. Here are some suggestions on how the Pacers can showcase themselves and what they have to offer:
Skills Challenge
The first event of All-Star Saturday Night is the NBA Skills Challenge, a gauntlet in which a team of three must demonstrate precision passing, dribbling, and shooting by navigating a moving obstacle course in the fastest time. Anyone who knows the Pacers knows that Haliburton possesses all these skills, but what about putting together a team that shows off his teammates, and lets the basketball world know that Indianapolis takes its game as seriously as it claims so often? Perhaps an all-big man team composed of skilled forwards Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam, and Jalen Smith? Or a bench showcase of players like TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin? The combinations are endless. It’s a perfectly designed event to let anyone interested in coming to Indy know that they wouldn’t be expected to carry the load themselves, because they’d be surrounded by talent.
Three Point Contest
Pacers fans will remember last year’s Three Point Contest, in which Haliburton blew the lid off the building in round one, only to go cold towards the end. This is the perfect opportunity to let him have his redemption moment, in front of his own fans and teammates, further boosting his already burgeoning superstar status. Or, if Haliburton isn’t selected, go for Aaron Nesmith instead. His entire story since coming to the Pacers has been that he’s more than just the throw-in from the Malcolm Brogdon trade, and putting him front and center on All-Star Saturday Night could be a great chance to prove how good the Pacers are at developing those other organizations won’t take a chance on.
Dunk Contest
Admittedly, this one would strictly be for publicity’s sake. There’s only one Pacer anyone wants to see in the Dunk Contest, and that’s Obi Toppin. Why wouldn’t that be the case? His entire Google search page brings up a plethora of video montages demonstrating his prowess at going above the rim in the flashiest of ways. The Pacers are no stranger to this event, having gotten the likes of Fred Jones (a former champion), Glenn Robinson III (also a former champion), and Indiana University alumnus Victor Oladipo in front of the All-Star crowd by entering them in the contest. Toppin, who could win a lot of popularity points by putting on Jones’ throwback jersey–just a suggestion–makes a habit of creative highlight reel dunks in the middle of games, so it’s highly enticing to think of what he might do if given an open court and time to plan.
Other Ideas
While All-Star Saturday Night is the main draw here, perhaps more than the Game itself, there is also the Rising Stars Challenge on the Friday night of that weekend, which will feature Mathurin and G League All Star Oscar Tshiebwe as players, and a list of coaches that includes some legends, such as ex-Pacers Jalen Rose and Detlef Schrempf, and former Indiana Fever superstar and WNBA champion Tamika Catchings. The team would do well to hype up these coaches’ participation, as it would show potential future Pacers that the opportunity to be respected and celebrated as a team hero can last beyond their playing careers.
Conclusion
The Pacers know how important All-Star Weekend is. It’s more than just a game where no one plays defense and superstars get to hang out with their friends. It’s a huge opportunity to market, showcase, and celebrate their brand of basketball. If the team wants to become a serious contender for championships, it will all start with these few days of festivities. What comes after that could very well be a return the glory days of past teams, if all this is handled properly.
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