Back in the day, Indianapolis was not an NBA city. It was an ABA city where they played with a red, white and blue basketball and introduced the 3-point shot. It was a city that embraced that upstart league because it brought pro basketball to a state said to have a hoop in nearly every single driveway.

You will probably see and hear more about the ABA this weekend than you may have expected because the Pacers, much like the San Antonio Spurs, embrace their distant past much more than the other two former ABA teams who joined the NBA in the 1976 merger, the Nets and the Nuggets.

A certain generation remembers Reggie Miller as being the epitome of Pacers basketball, and a certain demographic will always remember Ron Artest as being the face of the franchise for his actions during Malice at the Palace.

The fact of the matter is that no single player embodies pro basketball in Indianapolis, where the Indiana Hoosiers are the most popular basketball team in the state and always will be. Heck, it is a state that embraces high school and college hoops above all else, sort of like high school football in Texas.

What this weekend will bring memory-wise is tough to discern. Last year’s All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City is best remembered for G-Leaguer Mac McClung winning the slam dunk title, which he is back to defend (he is playing for the Osceola Magic of the G-League).

With news coming out Wednesday that the Warriors attempted to make a trade with the Lakers to acquire LeBron James, the safe bet is that LeBron will be the centerpiece one way or another.  

What else is happening in Indy? Here is a rundown:

When is the NBA All-Star game 2024?

The game will tip off Sunday evening at 8 p.m., culminating a weekend of events.

Where is the NBA All-Star game 2024?

It is being played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Pacers since they moved out of Market Square Arena in 2001.

What time is the NBA All Star game 2024?

The television listing will tell you that the game begins at 8 p.m., but in actuality that is when the telecast begins, and the All-Star pre-game introductions have so many bells and whistles that it’ll be more like 8:30 p.m. when the opening tipoff is contested.

Who is performing at the NBA All-Star game?

The NBA has announced a star-studded entertainment lineup for All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis featuring musical acts headlined by the youngest female EGOT winner and talk show host Jennifer Hudson, who will perform at halftime of the 73rd NBA All-Star Game.

Indianapolis native and 13-time Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer Babyface and Canadian Juno Award-winning singer Charlotte Cardin will sing the U.S. and Canadian national anthems. NBA Crossover, the league’s immersive fan event, will feature three days of performances.

On Friday, Grammy-winning artist T-Pain will tip off the NBA Crossover Concert Series. On Saturday, four-time Grammy-winning country singer and songwriters Keith Urban and Walker Hayes will perform at the NBA Experiences Pregame Concert, while five-time Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne is set to perform ahead of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.

What is the NBA All Star Game format?

The much-loathed Elam Ending, in which a designated winning point total was set at the end of the third quarter, has been eliminated. This will be like a regular game, four quarters of 12 minutes each, with overtime if the score is tied at the end of regulation.

Who are the 2024 NBA All Star starters?

Western Conference

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Eastern Conference

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was voted in as a starter but is inured and will not play. It is not yet known who will replace him in the starting lineup.

Who are the 2024 NBA All Star reserves?

Western Conference

Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns.

Eastern Conference

Bam Adebayo, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young.

How to watch NBA All Star game 2024?

The game will be televised by TNT in the United States.

Who won the NBA All Star game 2023?

Team Giannis defeated Team LeBron 184-175.

Who won the 2023 NBA All-Star game MVP?

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics was named the MVP after scoring an All-Star Game record 55 points.

When is the NBA celebrity All Star game?

This game will begin at 7 p.m. Friday night on an all-glass court being installed at Lucas Oil Field, home of the NFL Indianapolis Colts.

What celebrities are playing in the NBA All-Star game?

Taylor Swift was unavailable, so the NBA settled for Jennifer Hudson as the top entertainer on a list that also includes Al McLean, Anuel AA, Walker Hayes, SiR and Adam Blackstone along with actors Lilly Singh, Dylan Wang and Quincy Isaiah, streamer Kai Cenat and chef Kwame Onwuachi. NFL players CJ Stroud and Micah Parsons, high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi and WNBA players Jewell Loyd and Natasha Cloud are also competing. ESPN is televising the game.

NBA All-Star weekend events

Who is participating in the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge?

Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Tyrese Maxey, Myles Turner, Victor Wembanyama, Trae Young.

NBA All-Star weekend activities

Like at any All-Star weekend, much of the action will take place out of the public spotlight at private parties hosted by current and former NBA players, league sponsors and social influencers. The events that the public can watch will be televised Friday and Saturday by ESPN and Sunday by TNT.

Future NBA All-Star games

The 2025 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco, and the 2026 game will be hosted by the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which is currently under construction.

How much are the NBA All-Star game tickets?

The game is sold out, and tickets on the secondary market are available starting at $426 as of Wednesday, Feb. 14. Unclaimed tickets, if there are any, will be sold at the box office outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

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