Category: NBA

2026 Sixth Man of the Year odds

Odds as of 2-13-2026.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year favorites

Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves has already been a past winner of the award, but bettors are seeing him recapture that scoring-and-efficiency combo that helped him earn the honor as his name remains among the more respected and realistic long-shots.

Close behind him in the latest Sixth Man of the Year race is Keldon Johnson, who has been providing the San Antonio Spurs with valuable scoring and athleticism off the bench for his team.

Meanwhile, Ajay Mitchell has drawn attention thanks to his consistent production and efficient play — his early-season form has many calling him a serious 6MOTY candidate.

Reed Sheppard gets in the mix with his breakout role off the bench and elevated minutes in Houston with the Rockets.

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Understanding NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's 6MOY race as an example: 

As the season progressed, with Immanuel Quickley having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number: 

• Immanuel Quickley -300

This means that a bettor needs to wager $300 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such: 

• Russell Westbrook +650

Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

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Popular NBA futures markets

• NBA championship odds
• NBA MVP odds
• NBA Rookie of the Year odds
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds

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NBA 6MOY betting trends

Here are some trends you'll want to keep in mind when betting on NBA Sixth Man of the Year: 

• Guards have absolutely owned this award recently, winning 6MOY in 10 of the past 12 seasons.
  
  
• Naz Reid's 2024 win marked only the fourth 6MOY win by a center in its 41-year history (Montrezl Harrell '20, Roy Tarpley '88, and Bill Walton '86).
  
  
• Both Jamal Crawford ('10, '14, '16) and Lou Williams ('15, '18, '19) are recent three-time winners, so voter fatigue may matter less in this market. 

How is NBA Sixth Man of the Year decided?

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year is awarded to the league's best bench player each season. A variety of factors go into evaluating who the top reserve is:

Consistent statistical impact

The 6MOY must consistently provide a significant impact on the game whenever entering from the bench. This impact should be palpable and discernible in terms of offensive, defensive, or playmaking contributions.

Scoring prowess

The candidate should display an ability to contribute significantly to the team's scoring efforts. This can be evidenced by an impressive points-per-game average, especially in crucial moments of the game. Scoring tends to be the single most important stat for Sixth Man voting.

Versatility

The awardee should demonstrate the capability to adapt to various game situations. This encompasses two-way play, as well as adaptability to different styles and opposing lineups.

Role-player mentality

The recipient must exhibit a selfless approach to the game, willingly accepting their role as a substitute player and deferring to stars, while able to fill a variety of needs for team success.

Impact on team success

The award recipient should have a discernible impact on the team's overall success during the regular season, especially in terms of on-off metrics that measure a player’s impact on their team’s bottom line, and value relative to potential replacements.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year history

Year	NBA 6MOY Winner
2024-25	Payton Pritchard
2023-24	Naz Reid
2022-23	Malcolm Brogdon
2021-22	Tyler Herro
2020-21	Jordan Clarkson
2019-20	Montrezl Harrell
2018-19	Lou Williams
2017-18	Lou Williams
2016-17	Eric Gordon
2015-16	Jamal Crawford
2014-15	Lou Williams
2013-14	Jamal Crawford
2012-13	J.R. Smith
2011-12	James Harden
2010-11	Lamar Odom
2009-10	Jamal Crawford
2008-09	Jason Terry
2007-08	Manu Ginobili
2006-07	Leandro Barbosa
2005-06	Mike Miller
2004-05	Ben Gordon

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

HULL, England (AP) — Pedro Neto scored a hat trick, including directly from a corner kick, as Chelsea beat Hull City 4-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Also, Wrexham reached the fifth round for the first time in 29 years after beating Ipswich 1-0 in an all-Championship matchup.

Hull and Chelsea had met eight times before in the FA Cup and Chelsea progressed every time. Host Hull never looked like halting that arresting run as the Premier League side took control from the off.

Pedro Neto’s drilled shot from just outside the box gave Chelsea the lead going into halftime, and his low corner squeaked through a throng of bodies straight into the goal six minutes into the second period.

Young Brazilian Estêvão made it 3-0 minutes later when he side-footed home from 12 meters out, and Pedro Neto finished a nicely worked fourth.

“Pedro Neto is an incredible player,” Liam Delap, who recorded three assists, told TNT Sports. “He is playing in a position he is not even used to but he showed his quality.

Wrexham roll on

Wrexham will discover in Monday's draw who it meets next for a place in the quarterfinals.

A first-half goal from Josh Windass separated Wrexham from Ipswich, which didn't get a shot on target.

Both teams are in contention for promotion to the Premier League; Ipswich was in third place and hoping for an immediate return to the league it left last summer. Wrexham was seven points behind in sixth and bidding for a fourth consecutive promotion that would take it into the top tier for the first time in its 158-year history.

“We started both halves well but we weren’t able to get the goal," Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Wales. “Second half we tried everything ... but we just couldn’t get back into the game.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Malik Beasley was a free agent looking to re-sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Detroit Pistons before he was named in a federal investigation about an NBA gambling scandal.

Beasley's attorneys stated that he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the federal case in August. Beasley is still under investigation by the NBA related to suspicious prop bets placed during the 2023-24 season. Despite the issues, he has found a place to play basketball this season.

Beasley, 29, reportedly signed a deal to play in Puerto Rico for the Santurce Crabbers, a team owned by Grammy Award-winning and Super Bowl 60 performing artist Bad Bunny, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

PISA, Italy (AP) — Luka Modrić scored a late winner for AC Milan to beat Pisa 2-1 and close the gap on Serie A leader Inter Milan to five points on Friday.

Inter plays fourth-placed Juventus on Saturday.

Milan had drawn three of its last six games, including against struggling Fiorentina and Genoa, and made heavy work of a match against the second-from-bottom club that had won only one league game all season.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek got the opener just before halftime when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right, and Niclas Füllkrug missed a penalty as Milan took control after a slow start.

However, Pisa threatened to dent the visitor’s title hopes when Felipe Loyola equalized with 20 minutes left.

Former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Modrić came to Milan’s rescue six minutes from time when he stole into the box and poked home the winner.

There was still time for Milan’s Adrien Rabiot to be sent off but no more time for goals and Massimiliano Allegri’s men celebrated an important three points.

Pisa was equal on points with Verona. Fiorentina was three above both teams and Lecce another three points clear.

The Milan teams meet in the city derby at the San Siro on March 8.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0 to extend its unbeaten league run to 15 games and close the gap with Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to three points on Friday.

The result, anchored by three first-half headers, left Dortmund three points behind Bayern, which is at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Although its European form has been poor, Dortmund has been the form team in the Bundesliga and came into the game having won its last five in a row; it showed precisely why by overwhelming Mainz from the kickoff.

Serhou Guirassy’s perfect header from a free kick on the right after nine minutes set Dortmund on the winning path and six minutes later it was 2-0.

Again, the damage came from a cross from the right and a header, Maximilian Beier meeting Ryerson’s delivery at the far post.

Guirassy rounded off a near perfect half of football when his header almost on the goalline made it 3-0 shortly before halftime.

Dortmund was able to take its foot off the gas in the second half but there was still time for a fourth when Ramy Bensebaini nudged a corner into the net nine minutes from time.

It was a rude awakening for a Mainz side that appeared to have put its early season struggles behind it over the last few weeks.

Last weekend’s win against Augsburg lifted it out the relegation zone for the first time since September. Friday’s defeat left it 14th, four points above the drop zone but only two clear of Wolfsburg and Werder, both of which have a game in hand.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and this year the league has bigger problems than superstars not trying in an exhibition game. The moral panic over tanking has reached a fever pitch ahead of a loaded 2026 NBA Draft, and it seems unlikely that the USA vs. The World format for Sunday’s showcase game will be much of a distraction from basketball’s bigger problems.

Before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game kicks off from the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Intuit Dome, on Sunday, the league is gathering for another rendition of All-Star Saturday featuring the Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Shootout.

The Dunk Contest has fallen on hard times as of late, and once again there’s a disappointing field of participants. Mac McClung isn’t around to save the dunk contest this year, but there is one NBA All-Star in the field. Meanwhile, the Three-Point Contest features two top rookies, plus an aging superstar who hasn’t played a game this season because of an injury. Let’s make predictions for the dunk and three-point contests ahead of All-Star Saturday.

NBA Dunk Contest 2026 field and prediction

Here’s the field at the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest:

• Jase Richardson, G, Orlando Magic: The son of two-time dunk contest champ Jason Richardson is a rookie guard for the Orlando Magic who was picked No. 25 overall out of Michigan State. He’s listed at 6’1, 180 pounds, and has never been known for his hops like his old man.
• Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons: Duren is a first-time All-Star for the Pistons and one of the best young bigs in the league. Listed at 6’10, 250 pounds, he’s about the same size as Dwight Howard when he won the the Dunk Contest in 2008.
• Carter Bryant, F, San Antonio Spurs: A strong and athletic 6’8 wing, Bryant was chosen by the Spurs with the No. 14 overall pick in hopes of being a 3-and-D wing around Victor Wembanyama long-term.
• Jaxson Hayes, C, Los Angeles Lakers: Athletic backup center for the Lakers.

Our pick: Jaxson Hayes. It’s hard for a big man to win the dunk contest, but I saw Hayes an under-the-leg in-game a couple weeks ago, so I figure he’s got a deep bag for a contest like this. He’s so long and bouncy that could produce some cool dunks.

Replay of Jaxson Hayes steal and between legs dunk pic.twitter.com/SXhjxmQ7QD

— ✶Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️✶ (@_MarcusD3_) January 27, 2026

NBA Dunk Contest 2026 field and prediction

Here’s the field for the 2026 NBA Three-Point Contest:

• Kon Knueppel, G, Charlotte Hornets: Kneuppel is the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year. The No. 4 overall pick looks like a potential franchise player for the upstart Charlotte Hornets.
• Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers: Lillard hasn’t played a game this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. It was shocking to see him on this list. He’s going for his third title in this contest after winning it in 2023 and 2024.
• Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns: An All-Star and one of the best shooting guards in the league, Booker is the leader of a surprisingly feisty Suns team.
• Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets: A first-time All-Star and NBA champion, Murray is a big shot taker and maker.
• Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers: An All-Star guard playing at an All-NBA level, Maxey’s combination of speed and touch is one of the best in the world.
• Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs superstar is arguably the best American-born player in the league right now.
• Norman Powell, G, Miami Heat: A first-time All-Star at age-32, Powell can fill it up as a microwave scorer.
• Bobby Portis, F, Milwaukee Bucks: A veteran forward and NBA champion, Portis is a cult hero up in Milwaukee who has always been a stretch forward.

Our pick: Jamal Murray. Murray always rises to the occasion. I think he’ll be looking to prove himself in his first ever All-Star Weekend, and that starts by ripping the nights on Saturday night.

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Thanks to Luka Dončić’s best effort to recover from his hamstring strain, it appears likely that he will be representing the Lakers in the All-Star Game on Sunday.

Luka dealt with a hamstring strain for more than a week that caused him to miss the last four Lakers games before the All-Star break.

While he was out for LA’s game against Dallas, he was seen pregame getting shots up.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that workout went well and Luka playing this weekend is still the plan.

The Lakers’ Luka Dončić is indeed on course to play for a short stint in Sunday’s All-Star Game after a strong pregame workout Thursday, league sources tell @TheSteinLine. pic.twitter.com/nUvNyyN8Gf

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 13, 2026

Throughout the duration of Luka’s injury, he has reportedly remained hopeful that he could play in the All-Star Game, and it appears his efforts have not been in vain.

Initially, the Lakers believed this injury was minor and his status was day-to-day.

Before the Lakers took on the Mavs, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Luka was expected to return after the All-Star break. It seems that timeline is accurate and Luka will even play in this weekend’s signature contest.

Also important to note that Stein reports Luka will play a short stint. Even in an All-Star Game that few take seriously, there is risk for injury. So, it’d be wise for Luka to take it easy and just play for a moment so fans can celebrate their local star.

This will be Luka’s first time participating in the All-Star Game as a Laker.

Dončić was the top vote-getter in the NBA, and with the festivities taking place in Los Angeles, he will be one of the biggest stars this weekend.

Luka is having one of the best years of his career, averaging a league-high 32.8points per game. He will represent and play for Team World in this new All-Star format.

Lakers fans will also have other players to root for this weekend with LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes representing the purple and gold. LeBron made the All-Star team as a reserve, and Hayes will participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.

Luka’s return is great news. It means he should be good to go once the Lakers begin regular-season play, and it’s another example of how much he loves the game and wants to give back to his fans.

He worked hard to return as quickly as possible, and barring a setback, it seems he’ll be on the court Sunday as the NBA celebrates its biggest stars.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The new format for the 2026 All-Star Game throws MVP betting into chaos. As much as betting on the best player, a smart gambler identifies which team is likely to win the event. Thus, before even pondering Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant, the round-robin format must be considered.

The "World" team should be a shoe-in for the championship game. Of the NBA's MVP candidates, the "World" team may feature ... all of them. Combining Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama is a bit of a cheat code, certainly in a 12-minute game where fatigue should not be an issue.

Of the two U.S. teams, the "Stripes" are veteran-laden. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard should capitalize on one last chance to team up. Favor the team heavy with Olympic gold medalists, all due respect to the "Stars" and Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker.

2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP prediction

Our prediction: LeBron James to win

This may be LeBron James' last All-Star Game. The 12-minute games should allow him to run without tiring, and those runs should lead to a few highlight-worthy dunks.

Getting the chance to bet James at effectively 19-to-1 odds is too delightful a chance to turn down, particularly if trusting "Stripes" to reach the final.

2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP odds

2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP Award analysis

Victor Wembanyama may be the clear favorite, but everyone in the NBA will defer to King James if the vibe takes hold.

Betting on the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award at Kalshi is simple: If you want to wager on Victor Wembanyama to win, you'll "invest" in his stock at 23 cents in the hopes of winning $1 when the market is settled. 

Each market is priced based on implied probability, which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter.

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Eagles win this Sunday?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The NBA All-Star Break is not the exact halfway point of the season. Most teams have played in the ballpark of 53-55 games, meaning most squads have played nearly 65% of their season. Nonetheless, here we are. No NBA games for the next week as select players are in Los Angeles for the next few days for All-Star week festivities.

With players and coaches having a time to reflect and relax, it’s a fair time to look at the Phoenix Suns’ season so far holistically.

Sitting at 32-23, Phoenix has already surpassed the win total that many sports books and pundits projected for them going into the season, but what grade are you giving the team?

After having a strong start to 2026 and Jordan Ott winning Western Conference coach of the month, the Phoenix Suns have cooled down a bit, going 3-3 through their six games in February, and have continued to hover around the 6th and 7th seeds in the Western Conference standings.

The team hasn’t lost three in a row since October, so they’ve been able to avoid major down stretches. Conversely, the team has just one winning streak of more than five games since November, so while they’ve won more than they’ve lost, they haven’t had a chance to zoom up the standings.

While Devin Booker is heading to his fifth All-Star game, the team has been filled with many surprising performers. Dillon Brooks is having a career year and not just with technical fouls. His 21 points per game is the most he’s averaged in a season for his career, and his 44% shooting from the field is tied for his best percentage of his nine-year NBA resume. Collin Gillespie, who was on a two-way contract a season ago, has turned into a proven starter for the Suns, averaging career bests in points, assists, rebound,s and steals. With his 30-point, 10-assist game last week against the Portland Trailblazers, he joined Devin Booker and Steve Nash as the only Suns to have 8+ assists and 8+ threes in a game.

Mark Williams has already played the most games in a season of his career, and while his scoring is down from previous seasons, he’s shooting a career-high from the field. While Jalen Green and Grayson Allen have been in and out of the lineup, when Allen has played, he’s been having a career season, and Green has not played enough games to make a full assessment of his year on the court.

At the trade deadline, the team mostly stayed pat, trading away Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis in return for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony, who has yet to report. The move was made to help the team get under the tax for the first time in four seasons. Neither of the players the team traded is playing a big role, and the players they acquired do not look to be typical contributors.

What grade would you give the Suns as a team through 55 games?

On Saturday, the Kia Shooting Stars competition returns after an 11-year break, and the Knicks have some dogs in the fight.

The competition uses a two-round structure. In the first round, four teams compete one at a time, with 70 seconds to score points by rotating through seven designated shooting locations around the court. All three teammates shoot at each spot in a fixed order. The two teams with the highest scores advance to the final round, where they repeat the course head-to-head. The higher-scoring team wins the title.

Each team has two current players and one legend. For the Knicks, that legend is H20!

The lineup:

• Team All-Star: Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, and Rip Hamilton
• Team Cameron: Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Corey Maggette (Dukies)
• Team Harper: Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., and Ron Harper Sr. (A family affair)
• Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Allan Houston

Brunson is an Eastern Conference starter for the second-straight year. This will be the sixth All-Star appearance for Towns, a Team World reserve and one of the best shooting big men in the league.

And Houston, he of the silky smooth stroke? The former Knick made the All-Star team twice in his 12-year career and won the Shooting Stars event in 2012, alongside Landry Fields (Knicks) and Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty). These days, he serves as the Knicks’ Vice President of Player Leadership & Development.

The Shooting Stars event originally ran from 2004 to 2015 and often included a WNBA player per team before its hiatus. For some of us old guys, seeing Houston putting up shots again will be the highlight of the whole weekend.

The event occurs Saturday, during NBA All-Star Saturday Night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Coverage starts at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Tipoff is around 5:30 p.m. ET, right after the State Farm 3-Point Contest wraps up.

Go Knicks!

With much due respect to the legacies of Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, and Nate Robinson, the NBA 3-Point Contest has become the premier event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night.

This year's field includes a two-time champion in Damian Lillard, and my NBA 3-Point Contest predictions expect the veteran point guard to run the table tonight.

Find out more in my NBA picks for Saturday, February 14. 

NBA 3-Point Contest odds

NBA 3-Point Contest rules

The 3-Point Contest has gotten increasingly complicated over the years, with new modifications added almost annually. Familiarize yourself with the latest rules before wagering on the event.

• Players are given 70 seconds to shoot 27 balls from five racks located around the arc.
  
  
• Four of the five racks contain four NBA game balls and one tri-colored "moneyball." The fifth rack contains five tri-colored moneyballs. Players choose in advance where they would like to have the Moneyball rack positioned.
  
  
• Regular game balls are worth one point, and moneyballs are worth two points.
  
  
• There are two additional "Starry Range" ball pedestals, one between racks 2 and 3, and the other between racks 3 and 4. These shots are 29 feet and 9 inches from the basket (six feet behind the arc) and are worth three points each.
  
  
• The order of the competition is determined by a random draw, except for the previous year's winner, who automatically goes at the end of the opening round.
  
  
• The three players with the highest scores in the opening round will advance to the championship round. If there is a tie to determine the championship round participants, a 30-second tie-breaker round will take place between the tied players.
  
  
• The order for the Final Round will be the inverse of the opening round scores (i.e., the player with the lowest score shoots first). If a tie occurs in the final round, a full 70-second tiebreaker round will be used to determine the champion.

NBA 3-Point Contest favorites

Kon Knueppel (+260)

Shooting 43.1% from deep in your rookie year warrants a bounty of praise. Doing so on nearly eight attempts per game turns Kon Knueppel into something far more intriguing for the Charlotte Hornets.

And by no means has Kneuppel cooled off of late. The sharpshooter has shot 45.7% in February while taking 9.2 threes per game over five games.

The biggest question for Knueppel may be how he handles the Los Angeles nightlife this weekend. Then again, he is only 20 years old.

Damian Lillard (+450)

Damian Lillard tore his Achilles on April 27 of last year, nearly 10 full months ago. His surprise return to All-Star Weekend should be less of a shock than it has been.

The Portland Trail Blazers veteran is a two-time 3-Point Contest champion, and including Lillard in this field adds a compelling storyline.

No, Lillard has not taken a shot in a game this season. Then again, this is not a game either.

Jamal Murray (+600)

Jamal Murray has spent most of this season single-handedly carrying the Denver Nuggets amid injury after injury after injury to the starting lineup, including some nagging worries for Murray.

It has been merely human nature that he has lagged a bit since Nikola Jokic returned to the lineup; Murray could finally relax.

But Murray has shot just 14-of-50 in his last six games, a 28% showing that should cause concern if thinking about backing the Denver guard this weekend.

NBA 3-Point Contest pick

A skeptic might wonder if Lillard will be rusty. The better thought is to expect Lillard to be peaking.

No one else in this contest has as much experience in it as he does, and no one else has circled this Saturday night as the highlight of their season. Achilles recovery allows for catch-and-shooting nearly from the start; players cannot jump early on, but they can shoot.

Lillard has been training for this contest for months. This is not simply a bet on a storyline; it is also a bet on value.

Best bet: Damian Lillard 3-Point Contest winner (+450 at bet365)

Past 3-Point Contest winners

Players who have won multiple 3-Point Contests

Larry Bird added to his legacy by winning the first three 3-Point Contests from 1986 to 1988 before retiring from the event with nothing left to prove.

A master of the mental arts, the "Hick from French Lick" famously psyched out his opponents in his final 3-point shootout by walking into the locker room and casually asking, "Who's coming in second?" 

The answer, as it turns out, was Seattle's Dale Ellis, who could only watch in awe as Bird cooly eliminated him in the final round while still wearing his warm-up jacket.

3-Point Contest trends

• Dirk Nowitzki (2006) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2022) are the only 7-footers to win the contest.
  
  
• No one had won the contest in back-to-back years since 2008, until Damian Lillard accomplished the feat in 2023-24.
  
  
• No one has ever won the contest on their own home court.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

LOS ANGELES — In a crowded room at the Intuit Dome, dozens of reporters from across the globe surrounded Ron Harper Jr.

Several were from the Philippines, inquiring about whether the 25-year-old Celtic would ever consider eventually playing for the Philippine national team (he would).

Others hailed from Portugal, eager to know what it was like to share the floor with Neemias Queta, the nation’s first-ever NBA player (the two have long been close friends).

For Harper, this kind of media frenzy — being the main event — has not been the norm for a very long time.

For the last few years, he’s bounced around in the G League, fighting for a spot in the NBA. He’s been on four two-way contracts in three different cities, been waived multiple times, and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury two years ago that hindered his confidence — and, for a stretch, his career.

Now at All-Star weekend for the first time, and on the heels of his best-ever stretch in the league, he is eager to show that he belongs.

On Friday, he’ll participate in the Rising Stars game as a member of the G League team; the Celtics guard was selected to represent the Maine Celtics as one of the G League’s best players after averaging 24.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this season. He’ll share the floor with other G League standouts, a list that includes Alijah Martin, Yang Hansen, Jahmir Young, and Sean East II, among others.

“We were talking a little bit in the locker room before we came out here — I think we were all really excited to compete and represent the G League and be able to go out there and show people that we can compete on the grandest stage,” Harper Jr. said. “So I feel like we all got a common understanding that we are gonna go out there, play the right way, play as a team — and we’re ultimately trying to get a win.”

Then, on Saturday, he’ll lace up in the NBA’s Shooting Stars competition as part of a three-person team that also includes his father, former NBA Star Ron Harper, and younger brother, San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

That plan came together at the last minute, and Harper couldn’t turn down his brother and father once he was presented with the ask.

“They had both agreed to it, and they asked me to do it,” he said. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’ I wasn’t gonna stick them in with some random on the team. And, it made sense. I knew I was gonna be here already for the Rising Stars game. It was just gonna be a great opportunity to create some lifelong memories with family.”

The timing of the high-profile weekend is fortuitous; this month, Harper has begun to break into an NBA rotation for the very first time.

In fact, he’s played nearly as many NBA minutes in February (70) as he has in his entire NBA career before that (105).

His breakout game came earlier this month, when he started in a game against the Houston Rockets and tallied 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists — all career-highs. Most notably, he got the Kevin Durant assignment on defense — and held the Rockets’ star to one of his worst games of the season.

On Friday, Harper deemed guarding Durant his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.

“A dude like that, you don’t want to let him catch the ball,” he said. “And then sometimes he gets to the spot, and you can’t do nothing about it.”

Ron and Dylan Harper join forces at NBA All-Star Weekend

One of the cool elements of the weekend for Ron Harper is the opportunity to spend time with his brother, Dylan. The two will face off against one another in Friday night’s Rising Stars challenge and team up on Saturday night.

The brothers, who are six years apart, grew up battling each other in 1-on-1 basketball games in the driveway.

“I had a very strict older brother philosophy where — you got to earn it, I’m not gonna let him win,” Ron Harper said. “I used to tell my parents every time — he used to get mad at me because of it — that he’s gonna do it to somebody else one day.”

While both have had very different journeys to the NBA, they’re similarly in position to impact winning on elite NBA squads.

Both brothers are on the second-best teams of their respective conferences; the Celtics hold a 35-19 record, while the Spurs are 38-16.

Dylan was a lottery pick with expectations to come in and contribute to the Spurs right away; he’s averaged 10.9 points in 21.7 minutes per game this season.

Ron’s only averaging 10.7 minutes across 10 games this season, but his production and on-court opportunities have trended up, particularly in the wake of the midseason trade that sent Anfernee Simons to Chicago and created a larger opportunity in the Celtics backcourt.

And, Ron still likes his chances against his younger brother.

“If we play tomorrow in the driveway, ain’t no refs out there? I’m winning.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bad Bunny really wanted to see Carlos Correa play for Puerto Rico at home in the World Baseball Classic.

Correa, the infielder for the Houston Astros left off the WBC roster over insurance coverage, said Friday that the music superstar and fellow native of Puerto Rico had offered to pay for a policy.

“It means a lot that he’s that involved,” Correa told reporters at the Astros' spring training complex. “He tried to do everything possible. I wanted to play and make sure that I was going to go out there and play for Team Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico. The fact that he did that means a lot in how much he cares for the country, how much he cares for the fans back home. I’m deeply grateful that he tried that hard.”

Correa, who has a $200 million contract through 2028, had surgery in 2014 to repair a broken right tibia and both San Francisco and the Mets failed to approve his physicals for a contract during the 2022-23 offseason.

While not providing the name of the provider Bad Bunny proposed, Correa said it was one that was not approved by Major League Baseball, the Astros and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras. A person familiar with the process said MLB was not contacted about the possibility of Bad Bunny arranging an insurer. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no public statements were made.

“I could not sign my life away with something that three people that I trust are telling me not to do,” Correa said.

Puerto Rico is hosting pool play games in the WBC next month.

Bad Bunny, who was born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most-streamed artists on the planet. He was the featured halftime performaer at the Super Bowl last Sunday, a week after winning album of the year at the 2026 Grammys for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos", which is the first time an all Spanish-language album took the top prize.

Bad Bunny's sports representation firm, Rimas Sports, and the MLB Players Association settled a lawsuit last year after the union disciplined the agency over violations of its agent regulations. It revoked the agent certification of Rimas’ William Arroyo and denied certifications of executives Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, citing citing a $200,000 interest-free loan and a $19,500 gift. The union issued a $400,000 fine for misconduct. Arbitrator Ruth M. Moscovitch upheld the union’s five-year suspensions of Assad and Miranda and cut Arroyo’s suspension to three years.

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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report from New York.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb