It's time for the NBA to recognize and treat the 3-Point Contest for what it is — the best part of All-Star Saturday. It has the star players, it has the drama, and it brings it every year. It is time to start closing All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-point contest.
Next year might be the right time because the field is already starting to stack up. This year’s winner, Damian Lillard, posted a screenshot of a text he had with Stephen Curry — and Curry had already said on NBC that he would be back in the contest next year.
Devin Booker told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic that he was in for next year, but losing this year stung, so the one on his home court in Phoenix might be his last.
Devin Booker said next year may very well be the last time he competes in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest as he lost, 29-27, to Damian Lillard in this year's final.
"This one hurt a little bit. I wanted this one bad. Wish I was defending it in Phoenix but it'll probably be the…
NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman was treated for minor injuries and released, the team said on Monday after New York police received reports that he was jumped by four men in a hotel lobby.
The Browns said Hickman, 24, was at home resting with his family. There have been no arrests and an investigation continues, according to a statement from the New York Police Department.
Authorities said they responded to a 911 call at 4:35 a.m. Monday reporting an assault in a hotel lobby.
“Upon arrival, officers were informed that four unidentified individuals punched a 24-year-old male about the body following a verbal dispute,” police said. “The suspects fled the location in an unknown direction.”
An undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, Hickman has played 41 games over three seasons, recording 173 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery.
GIRONA, Spain (AP) — Lamine Yamal missed a penalty as Barcelona lost at Girona 2-1 on Monday and passed up a chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
The defeat was the second in less than a week for Barca and left it second in the table, two points behind Madrid.
A win would have taken it above its archrival but, instead, a crisis brewed for coach Hansi Flick, whose side lost to Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Copa del Rey last week.
The second loss came even though Barcelona took the lead early in the second half.
Yamal hit the post with his spot kick on the stroke of halftime but 14 minutes into the second period Pau Cubarsí met Jules Kounde’s cross from the right and placed his header perfectly into the top corner.
The goal was Barcelona’s 100th in all competitions this season and made it the second club in Europe's big five domestic leagues to hit the century after Bayern Munich.
However, Girona roared back into the game just three minutes later.
Barcelona’s Joan Garcia was already the busier of the two goalkeepers but he could not stop Thomas Lemar side-footing home from close range after nice work from Vladyslav Vanat on the left wing.
Both sides pushed for a decisive second and it was Girona who executed with three minutes remaining, substitute Fran Beltrán scoring with a low shot from just inside the box.
Girona’s Joel Roca was sent off in the dying seconds but there were no more goals.
The victory ended a three-game winless streak for Girona and lifted it three places into 12th, equal on points with Getafe.
Only seven points separate the 11 clubs from eighth to 18th in La Liga.
"I think they ain't really going to take in what I'm saying, but I like this format," All-Star MVP Anthony Edwards said. "I think it makes us compete because it's only 12 minutes, and the three different teams separate the guys. I think it was really good … I feel like the old heads played hard, too. They were playing real good defense."
Edwards was not the only player thinking that way.
"I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season," Kevin Durant said.
"I know the world guys wanted to win. I know Victor [Wembanyama] wanted to win bad," Devin Booker said. "You could see it. And I know our team did.
"Shout-out Kawhi. We were watching that game in the back. That's probably one of the most special quarters of basketball we've witnessed."
Booker also threw the NBA league office some love for changing around the players' schedules during All-Star Weekend.
"The NBA did a good job of us doing all our media and pictures yesterday. So today, we could just come in and properly get our bodies activated. I think that was a big part of it," Devin Booker said. "I think every team honestly wanted to win."
"We wanted to play hard. It doesn't matter what the format was, I came in, I'm going to play some defense," Maxey said. "I'll score when I can, but I want to play hard, bring energy, get some steals, and have fun."
Karl-Anthony Towns said this was his favorite All-Star Game he's played in, partly because he got to represent the Dominican Republic on the World Team, and partly because of the level of competition.
"Fans have been asking for it. Media have been asking for it," Towns said. "I feel that after today, I think you all can see the competition is there, and I think that we all brought it today and a sense of effort. I hope that the fans and all of you appreciate it."
A number of the World players were excited to represent the growth of the game.
"I think it brought some competitiveness with it, and it's a fun format," first-time All-Star Deni Avdija said. "So it shows how the game went global, which is amazing to see."
Victor Wembanyama was the guy credited with sparking the hard play — Edwards the MVP said Wemby set the tone at the start of the first game, when he scored the World's first seven points.
Wembanyama liked the USA vs. World format, but is open to a return to tradition.
"I liked it," Wembanyama said of the format. "I wouldn't be against this format in the future, and I wouldn't be against the regular East versus West either."
Wemby isn't the only player who still likes the East vs. West
"I thought it was good," Kawhi Leonard said. "But I still think going back to East-West will be great. I think guys will compete still."
Whatever the format is next year in Phoenix, hopefully we see the same level of player buy-in, defense, and competitiveness. It's what we've all been hoping for.
Damian Lillard might have just sparked anticipation for possibly the greatest NBA 3-Point Contest of all-time.
After Lillard won his third State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest in a stunning, edge-of-the-seat fashion during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, he caught the attention of another great NBA shooter, arguably the greatest of all-time, who seemingly wants in on next year's competition.
Stephen Curry, the NBA's all-time leader in three-point shots made, confirmed in an Instagram direct message to Lillard that he would compete in the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend's 3-Point Contest in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lillard reached out to Curry first to assemble the troops.
He lobbied for himself, Curry, Klay Thompson and Devin Booker to be frontrunners in next year's competition, adding they would need to find four more participants.
"Next year ... me, you, Klay, Book, and 4 more real shooters," Lillard said.
Curry responded with excitement and interest in the ultimate competition between the league's best shooters.
"Yessir I'm in. Know Klay will do it if I ask and Book will be at home. Perfect setup," Curry wrote, according to Lillard's Instagram story.
Lillard posted the interaction to his social channel, seemingly confirming the arrangement.
"It's lit," Lillard captioned his Instagram story.
Next year’s 3-point contest is going to be special 🍿
CAGLIARI, Italy (AP) — Lecce beat Cagliari 2-0 and gained a vital three points in its struggle to avoid relegation from Serie A on Monday.
The southern club remained in 17th place but the win took it three points clear of the relegation zone. It was tied on points with the two clubs above it, Cremonese and Genoa.
After a goalless first half, the visitor was more clinical in a decisive second period.
Omri Gandelman put Lecce ahead with a header after 65 minutes, and Ylber Ramadani doubled the lead 11 minutes later with a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
It was the second win in a row for Lecce after a run of eight games without a victory and only the second time in 12 games it has scored twice in one match.
It was the second loss in succession for Cagliari, which remained in 13th place, a point behind Parma and one clear of Torino.
MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — Brentford will face West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup after dispatching Macclesfield 1-0 on Monday, an own goal ending the fairy tale run of the sixth-tier giantkiller.
The Macclesfield part-timers knocked out cup holder Crystal Palace in the last round and were hailed for pulling off one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s long history.
But they could not match Brentford, which progressed thanks to a 70th minute own goal from Sam Heathcote.
The big defender dived to cut out a cross from Aaron Hickey but instead diverted the ball past his own keeper.
It was a cruel denouement for Macclesfield, which held the Premier League club throughout an even first half before tiring in the second 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t be any prouder," Macclesfield coach John Rooney told TNT Sports. “The lads were outstanding and the shape was really good. We train two times a week and we’ve put that performance on against a Premier League side."
The fifth-round tie will take place at West Ham’s Olympic Stadium on the weekend of March 7-8.
Brentford has never passed the quarterfinals of the competition.
“Credit to Macclesfield," Brentford captain Nathan Collins said. “They made it extremely hard for us. They put up a great fight.”
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 19: The sneakers worn by Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 19, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team World center Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs reacts in game three during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The All-Star Game isn’t what it used to be. It used to be a star-studded, spectacular event that put the biggest basketball talents in the world on their own stage. The talent level on one court challenged even the NBA and Olympic Finals, and the players played like they had something to prove. However, in recent years, the performance level has dropped, and it has become more of a formality to simply show up and get the All-Star nod on the resume since it can lead to extra pay, be it bonuses built into contracts or a checkmark towards a supermax contract extension.
The play has been uninspiring with zero defensive effort — whether it’s out of exhaustion, laziness, fear of injury, or some of each — and the other events of the weekend have become repetitive, mundane, and not as interesting thanks in no small part to fewer stars participating. To make matters even worse for this year, All-Star Weekend was sparsely attended for multiple possible reasons: high prices, afternoon times (thanks to the Winter Olympics), the novelty of the event having worn off, etc.
With Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge typically the least popular event regardless, and the Saturday events losing luster (especially the Slam Dunk Contest), it was up to what had become the least reliable event in recent years to save the day: the All-Star Game itself. With multiple years of tinkering with the teams and format to find something that appealed — from captains drafting teams, to a round robin tournament, and finally a USA vs. The World format — the NBA needed SOMEONE to step up and save the day. Someone did, and he is none than Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Already known for being fiercely competitive, he wasn’t about take any opportunity lying down. After talking the talk before the game, saying he would play hard and hoped others would follow suit, he walked the walk, and sure enough everyone else followed. He flew out of the gates, opening round 1 with a dunk, three and two blocks, and as eventual ASG MVP Anthony Edwards put it, he set the tone by playing hard, and they had no choice but to respond.
All-Star Game MVP Anthony Edwards repeats his earlier praise of Victor Wembanyama.
"I ain't gonna lie, Wemby set the tone. He came out playing hard, and we had to follow that." pic.twitter.com/yvDelkWCqL
Wemby’s Team World may have gone 0-2 and missed the finale, giving him no shot at the MVP award, but if there was an MVP of the entire weekend to be handed out, he would win it.
As a result, plenty of praise is being heaped his way, essentially calling him the savior of the All-Star Game and weekend as a whole.
If Wemby truly has set a new tone that will followed going forward, the next step will be saving the entire weekend, and making The Dunk Contest the top Saturday event again will play a big role. That’s something he and Edwards could help do, and even though they may be rivals on the court, they’re two of the most competitive players in the league and the faces of this new generation of players. Hopefully together, they can set a new tone going forward.
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 28: Haywood Highsmith #24 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against Cleveland Cavaliers during round 1 game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Haywood Highsmith
Small and Power Forward, 6’5”, 220 pounds, 29 years old, 5 years of NBA experience
The Phoenix Suns got off to the right start of the year before the All-Star Break transpired. Even if they went 1-2 in their final three games, this team has proved every doubter wrong with their success. This team currently sits 32-23, over its win total from the beginning of the year.
The Suns (32-22) hit the over on their preseason win total before the All-Star break 😳 pic.twitter.com/czwVQgwD0i
With them exceeding expectations and setting themselves up for a postseason run, the team decided to add some more reinforcements, and a big one on the buyout market with Haywood Highsmith.
Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UbkwghKYRL
From watching Highsmith in the past and seeing where this team is going, this is a great move from the front office. They take a low-value swing, and if it pays off, they will make this roster even richer than before.
2024-25 Recap
Highsmith has had a bit of a wild career, but fortunately, last season dealt with a tamer one than the previous. This was due to his success with the Heat during their 2023 Finals run. He was then able to secure a 2-year deal worth a little more than $10 million.
In the 2024 season, he had a healthy year, playing in 74 of the Heat’s 82 games and starting 42. For the Heat, he played a consistent role as a solid wing defender who can take big assignments, is scrappy, plays for loose balls, and is a strong defender. Not only will he do that defensively, but he could also stretch and shoot the three-ball at a decent clip. In a year when he had his most minutes (24.6), Highsmith averaged career highs in almost every category. He had a stat line of 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks while shooting 46/38/72 from the field.
Unfortunately, Highsmith suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during training camp in the offseason. He then underwent surgery and was said to miss 8-10 weeks. With this happening in August, pretty late in the offseason, the Heat knew he would not be back and needed some additions. That is when, a week later, after getting this injury, Highsmith was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for essentially a $5.6 trade exception, giving the Heat flexibility to add to their team, knowing Highsmith would not be available to them.
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ilO1dBStWw
The Brooklyn Nets then waived him on February 5th, as the Nets could not trade him and did not want him. With him prepping a comeback, many playoff teams would be interested in the dynamic wing.
Contract Details
With Highsmith being waived by the Nets, he became a free agent and could have signed any deal with the Suns. He ended up signing a minimum two-year contract with the team, with the second year non-guaranteed.
This is a huge win for both Highsmith and the Suns. For Highsmith, he gets to go to a team that is in the mix of things and could actually carve out a role in this rotation. If he does and succeeds, well, the Suns are going to keep him, and he will have a home for two seasons after fighting to get to the league since 2018. For the Suns, they take a flyer on a wing who can help them now, and if he does carve out a role in the rotation, well, they got a scam contract for next year. One that is needed, given how financially stuck this team already is, and with some paydays coming in for some of their own free agents.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Highsmith’s versatility is his greatest strength, as he can help on both sides of the court and fits the scheme that coach Ott has laid out perfectly. Since he is another 3&D wing, he will fit in like a glove, just like the others on this roster. He can play solid perimeter defense, something this team has lacked a bit as some of its role players have gotten older. He brings high effort and energy, just like many others on this roster, which has been another staple. Then on the offensive end, he can strike down from three-point range, which has been a staple of the success this year on that side of the ball. With him shooting 38% and close to 40% the year previous, you can see exactly why he can fit into this offense.
My only weakness for Highsmith is that he cannot really create his own shot. The only benefit of the second one is that it is not going to be his role. I’d expect Highsmith to serve as a buffer when Grayson Allen is out and they need more size on the wing. He can slot in and be that catch-and-shoot three-point scorer, while playing some hard-nosed defense on the other end.
One Key Factor
Even if Highsmith has had a solid couple of years recently, we cannot expect this signing to put the Suns over the moon. In NBA history, it is notoriously known that buyout guys do not make much of a difference unless you are Kevin Love joining the Heat. Now, Highsmith was only in this predicament because he tore his meniscus, but that makes you wonder: Will he be back to that form? As we all know, with injuries, especially serious ones like Highsmith’s, sometimes a player is never the same. If that were to be the case for Highsmith, it would not only be upsetting for him but also for the Suns fans.
I know personally, when I saw this notification, I was shocked. I did not expect Highsmith to come to Phoenix, and he is the best player this team could have added. So, for his sake, I want to see him healthy and able to contribute.
Prediction Time
I am excited to see Highsmith suit up for Phoenix, even if he does not have a solid field role in this rotation. For someone who can give some good energy on the defensive end, he should see some playing time just for his effort. Once he can get comfortable offensively and find his spots, that is when the threes will start falling as well. Even if he is at the end of the rotation and only used in situational situations, he will be needed for the size on the wing in the playoffs to help match up against other stars.
Stat Prediction: 20 Games Played, 5.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, on 45/40/75
Final Thoughts
I am excited to see what Haywood Highsmith can do for this team. After watching him take on the Boston Celtics in the 2023 playoffs, he gave me nightmares, and I hope he can recreate those same memories for other fanbases around the league now that he is in the Valley.
Jaylen Brown, left, with Jalen Duren, center, and Kawhi Leonard, during the NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
NBA star Jaylen Brown had a public spat with the Beverly Hills Police Department Saturday night after police shut down a brand event he was hosting.
Brown, who signed a $285-million contract with the Celtics in 2023, was in Los Angeles for the National Basketball Assn.'s All-Star festivities.
He told ESPN that the event was hosted at Oakley founder Jim Jannard's house. Brown is sponsored by Oakley.
The event took place in the Trousdale section of Beverly Hills and was shut down about 7 p.m. In a video posted on Brown's Instagram account, the NBA star could be seen arguing with a BHPD officer who was shutting the party down.
"The owner didn't say we needed a permit," Brown told the officer in the video. Brown claimed the event was not a party, but rather a panel on culture.
"300k down the drain," Brown wrote in a post on X after the incident, tagging the Beverly Hills Police Department.
"An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address," BHPD said in a statement.
"Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur," the statement continued.
Brown plays for the Boston Celtics, a historic rival of the Los Angeles Lakers, but added that he was surprised at his treatment by the city of Beverly Hills.
"I feel like we're being targeted right now," he said in a video posted to Instagram.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 22: Alperen Sengun #28 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets talk during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Arwen Clemans/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thanks to another deal with the Thunder, one you can spend plenty of time arguing over on this very blog, the Sixers are now in control of the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick in this upcoming draft. So, every week we’ll be checking in on the Rockets to see how they’re doing and where the Sixers’ pick might fall as a result.
That’s far from set in stone, as the Rockets are just a half game up over the Los Angeles Lakers and only two games up in the loss column over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the West. In terms of league-wide standings for draft order, the Cleveland Cavaliers are right in that bunch as well with a 34-21 record.
With how bunched up the middle of the pack is, there could be a ton of movement between now and the end of the regular season and a Houston slump to help the Sixers out is not impossible.
Going 6-4 in their last 10 games, the general vibes around the Rockets seemed a bit off after they’ve come down to earth from a scorching start. The vibes there may now be in utter chaos thanks to another potential Kevin Durant burner account saga.
The Sixers won’t be counting ping pong balls in the lottery like last year. Their process to acquire this Rockets pick may come back to bite them, but at the same time, they might have picked the perfect team for their fans to hate-watch for the rest of the regular season.
The Obamas took over the NBA All-Star Game over the weekend.
Former President Barack Obama, a known basketball fan, and first lady Michelle Obama were met with a burst of cheers from the crowd at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Sunday, Feb. 15.
NBA legend Julius Erving sat next to them on the court. People gushed over their appearance, and videos of the duo went viral on social media.
Here are photos of the Obamas' date night at the NBA All-Star game.
