Francisco Conceicao’s value is now rising and is likely to cause problems liverpool In summer.

sports witness The Reds’ interest in the winger was covered in March. Initial contact has been made and Manchester United has also been mentioned as a possible destination for the Portuguese attacker.

Conceição has contributed eight Serie A goals this season but has become a key player for Luciano Spalletti.

He has started every game since March and it is a clear indication of his growing prominence at the Bianconeri. Liverpool’s task is becoming more complex and his playing time has only helped.

€70m required

corriere dello sport Note how Conceição impressed for Juve against Hellas Verona at the weekend. While Spalletti’s team did not win, he remained a constant threat on the right wing, almost scoring twice after Dusan Vlahovic equalised.

This impressed the Italian manager at a time when Kenan Yildiz was facing problems of his own. Aidan Zvergova also never impressed, leaving Conceição as the main creator in attack. Conceição has now been described as ‘one of the most effective wingers’ in Serie A.

The newspaper has clarified Liverpool’s interest and warned that he could be a potential replacement for Mo Salah. The World Cup will also be important for Conceição, who can build their reputation.

Due to his recent performances, the attacker is now valued at €70m. It was previously €50m but Juve are going above that. Spalletti’s stance is also important, with Conceição considered indispensable to the team.

Our view: The Reds should focus on other goals

The Italian press seems to be hyping Conceicao as if he is actually the second coming of Mo Salah. This is not at all true, as the Portuguese consistently lacks the final ball and is still quite inconsistent.

He has a very reliable ability to beat defenders but his statistics speak volumes about his weaknesses. His 1v1 ability amazes but he still has a long way to go before reaching Salah’s level.

Indeed, the Egyptian was firing on all cylinders at Roma before arriving at Liverpool. Conceição are a level below him and €70m is a ridiculous figure to pay for him.

NASCAR’s schedule is completely loaded this week as the Truck Series, O’Reilly Series and Cup Series are all in Fort Worth, Texas. It will be a great weekend of racing all three days at Texas Motor Speedway.

Let’s take a look at the NASCAR weekend schedule for Texas. As always, TMS is listed for Eastern Time. You can find everything from practice and qualifying times to track information and where to watch the race.

READ MORE: NASCAR Power Rankings before Texas

NASCAR weekend schedule in Texas

Here is this week’s NASCAR schedule for practice, qualifying times and green flag times at Texas Motor Speedway. We’ve broken it down before, you can find the individual Truck, O’Reilly Series and Cup Series weekend schedules below.

Friday, May 1

Saturday, May 2

Read more: NASCAR’s standing before Texas

Sunday, May 3

Read More: Best NASCAR Races 2026

NASCAR Truck Series Schedule This Weekend

Here is the NASCAR Truck Series schedule for Texas this weekend.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Schedule This Weekend

Here is the schedule for this weekend’s NASCAR ORAS.

NASCAR Cup Series schedule this weekend

Here is the NASCAR Cup Series schedule for Texas this weekend.

Texas Motor Speedway: Quick Stats

• Track Length: 1.5 miles
• Track Type: intermediate
• surface: asphalt
• Banking: turn; 24, backstretch; 5, tri-oval; 5

Texas Motor Speedway Race Details and Stages

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The 2026 NFL Draft tipped off on Saturday, and by many accounts, the Baltimore Ravens once again had a great weekend. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has been the team’s final decision-maker in terms of signings, trades and team draft prospects since 2019. This was his eighth time presiding over the draft.

While DeCosta is usually in full control of the Ravens’ front office, there was a change at the top for a brief moment during the three-day draft event.

According to DeCosta, when the Ravens were selecting Clemson running back Adam Randall with the 174th overall pick in the fifth round, that selection was actually made by team owner Steve Bisciotti. This was the first time since becoming the team owner in 2001 that he selected a player.

“When we were in Florida, Steve was begging for a draft pick, and he’s the owner of the team,” DeCosta said via the team’s website. “I said, ‘Yes, Steve, of course you can have draft picks.’ So we decided on our final fifth-round pick. He did his research and studied tapes, talked to people. He has a really good relationship with the head coach of Clemson.

The Ravens selected a total of 11 players over draft weekend, so it’s only fitting that the man who owns the team gets some say in Baltimore’s future. Even though it was very unnatural.

Randall now joins a Baltimore depth chart that includes Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, 2024 fifth-round pick Rasheen Ali and UDFA signee Donte McMillan. He faces an uphill climb, but being the owner’s hand-picked choice won’t hurt his chances of cracking the team’s final 53-man roster at the cutdown date.

RELATED: 6 best 2026 NFL draft classes including the Bills and Browns

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

Formula 1 is already undergoing a significant change to the 2026 rules in just the blink of an eye, taking effect in Miami.

The FIA ​​called an online meeting with team principals, power unit manufacturer CEOs and Formula One management on Monday, following data from three races from Australia, China and Japan. The result: unanimous agreement on a four-part package of 2026 Formula 1 rule changes that will reshape the performance of these cars for the remainder of the season.

F1 addresses superclipping glitch as part of changes

The title change takes aim at superclipping – the dreaded phenomenon where drivers spend too many laps harvesting energy instead of actually racing. The maximum permitted recharge has been reduced from 8 MJ (megajoules) to 7 MJ, and the peak Superclip power has been increased from 250 kW to 350 kW. The intention is simple: spend less time recharging, more time relaxing. Under the new parameters, the duration of the superclip should be reduced by approximately two to four seconds per lap. It’s a meaningful reduction from what fans saw in the initial run.

For racing, the boost system also has its limits. The 150 kW current power level at the time of activation is specifically designed to prevent the jerky, sudden performance fluctuations that occur when a driver presses the deployment button. The MGU-K will still pump out 350kW from corner exit to braking point, through acceleration zones, but will drop to 250kW elsewhere on the lap. The closing speed was becoming dangerous. It solves that problem without overtaking.

Watch all the Formula 1 action live at the Miami Grand Prix: Now available on Apple TV+

Race starts are changing for the remainder of 2026

Race starts are also addressed, although that piece is on a slightly different timeline. A new detection system will identify cars with abnormally low acceleration off the line and automatically trigger MGU-K deployment to ensure safe minimums. Flashing rear and side lights will warn following drivers. Miami is a test case, where full adoption will take place after an analysis of how it performs there.

Wet weather rules revamped for Miami Grand Prix and beyond

Attention was also paid to wet weather. The intermediate tire blanket temperature is being increased based on direct driver feedback, ERS deployment has been reduced in low-grip conditions and the rear lights are being simplified for better visibility through the spray.

The 2026 Formula 1 regulation changes still need to be approved by an e-vote of the FIA ​​World Motor Sport Council after being agreed, but given the unanimous stakeholder agreement on Monday, this is a formality. Miami is the turning point for the 2026 season – on and off the track.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1…More about Scott Gulbransen

This week’s NASCAR schedule takes us to Talladega Superspeedway, home of “The Big One” and a lot more chaos. Although there are no Truck Series races this weekend, we are confident that the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series races on Saturday and Sunday will provide plenty of entertainment for racing fans.

Let’s dive into the NASCAR weekend schedule at Talladega. As always, we first list the NASCAR schedule by day, followed by individual qualifying times and green flag times for each series. All times listed are ET. Note, there is no practice this week.

READ MORE: NASCAR Power Rankings before Talladega

NASCAR weekend schedule for Talladega Superspeedway

Friday, April 24

Saturday, April 25

Sunday, April 26

Read more: Best NASCAR races 2026, ranking every NASCAR race this season

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Schedule This Weekend

Here is the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule for this weekend.

NASCAR Cup Series schedule this weekend

Here is the Cup Series schedule for this weekend’s Jack Link 500 at Talladega.

Talladega Superspeedway: Quick Stats

• Track Length: 2.66 miles
• Track Type: superspeedway
• surface: asphalt
• Banking: Turn: 33; Backstretch: 2; Front Stretch: 16.5

Talladega Superspeedway Race Details and Stages

Of note, NASCAR announced on April 13 that it was changing stages for the race at Talladega Superspeedway. Stage 1 will now be the longest at 98 laps, while Stage 2 will cover 45 laps.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Rising Stars event on NBA All-Star Weekend gives fans a chance to see some of the league’s top young players, from star rookies to second-year standouts. The event has also grown to include G League standouts, but has always featured two-way contract players and assignment players. This season, Sean East II was the only non-NBA G League player to compete at All-Star Weekend.

A career game for Sean East II 🔥🌟 East finished with a career-high 39 PTS, 14 FGM and shot 63% from beyond the arc. @slcstars 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hzMTD8n4P1

– NBA G League (@nbagleague) 23 February 2026

East was a member of Team Austin, coached by former NBA player Austin Rivers. He played a little more than seven minutes, finishing with two points, one rebound and one assist as Team Austin was eliminated in the early rounds. East was also selected to play in the G League Next Up game, which featured some of the best players in the G League throughout the season.

For him, attending All-Star Weekend and sharing the court with some of the best young players in the NBA was an incredible experience. East grew up watching the All-Star Game, and still has strong memories of his favorite moments.

“Just watching the fight between Kobe [Bryant] and lebron [James]kyrie [Irving]Everybody, all of them great players. “Watching it with my family on Sunday nights,” East told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. “It was good. . .I had to take it all in, it was fun. I wish we could do it again. Had fun. I had fun and I can’t wait to hopefully play one day on Sunday.”

Playing one day in Sunday’s marquee All-Star Game is no easy task. There has yet to be a player who made an NBA All-Star team who debuted in the G League. Players like Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam have made All-Star teams after spending substantial time playing in the G League.

But in Siakam’s case, he was drafted first by the Toronto Raptors. Along with VanVleet, he immediately joined the Raptors as an undrafted free agent before gaining a foothold in the G League. But aside from All-Star goals, making it to the NBA is actually a realistic option for the East.

He has been performing poorly in the G League this season, and has already attracted the attention of NBA teams.

“I’m getting a little buzz regarding a two-way contract,” East said. “But we’ll see. I’ll keep doing the work I do and hopefully the call-up comes soon.”

After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, East signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for the Summer League. He played with the Lakers team in both the California Classic and Las Vegas, averaging 6.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

East finished playing in Canada with the CEBL (Canadian Elite Basketball League), and set the league record for most points in a season with 546. This year, he joined the Utah Jazz for training camp, but was one of the final cuts before the start of the season.

Since being waived, East has been playing with the Jazz’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. This is his first official foray into the G League as a professional, and the competition has been equal so far.

“It’s good competition. It’s definitely not the NBA, but it’s a good mix of players who played in the NBA and the G League,” East said. “It’s pretty solid competition. Everyone is definitely trying to get to the NBA.”

In his first full season in the G League, East appeared in 44 games for Salt Lake City. He averaged 19.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from the 3-point line and 75.5 percent from the free-throw line.

He is now firmly on the radar of NBA teams, and it would not be surprising if he is signed to a two-way contract, at least, until next season. He has shown that he can be a capable scoring threat, while also being able to quarterback an offense and be a playmaking guard. But until that call-up comes, East is just enjoying the newfound attention.

“It’s just a dream come true,” East said. “So I just want to continue living it.”

The NBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Phoenix Suns in 2027, and owner Matt Ishbia is working hard to get players more interested in the competition. He wants the stars to compete in the three-point and slam dunk contests like they used to. Therefore, he may promise additional prize money to the winners as a way to entice players to compete, but he may not be able to do so.

Ishbia was on the most recent episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” and committed to awarding a $1 million prize to the winners of the three-point and slam dunk contests. Then, an additional $1 million to donate to each event. While this sounds good in theory, there will be some hurdles to making it happen.

“Let’s get the best people in,” Ishbia said. “Let’s make it amazing.”

However, officials from the NBA league office and players union also told ESPN that such an award would not be in line with the existing bonus structure for players.

Sources said Ishbia did not consult the league office before making the offer. But he’s motivated to find a way to bring more stars to the events overall, and if he can get it approved, it might work.

The last time a current All-Star won the Dunk Contest was in 2011 when Blake Griffin set the basketball world on fire and jumped over a car to win the contest.

This year, the NBA All-Star Weekend event was viewed by many as a mixed bag. Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson won the dunk contest in Los Angeles this year. Then, nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard won his third 3-point contest in the last four years despite missing a game this year due to an Achilles injury.

Jackson Hayes did a warm-up dunk in the actual contest, and it was widely condemned on social media and in the NBA world. Then, Jace Richardson almost got seriously injured while attempting a dunk. The actual competition between Keshad Johnson and Carter Bryant became interesting, but it was too late. If Ishbia can do that, it would be a huge win for the NBA and its viewers.

The San Antonio Spurs were well represented at All-Star Weekend. Victor Wembanyama was voted as the starter for the All-Star Game. Stephen Castle and Dylan Harper competed in the Rising Stars competition, with Harper also being a part of the returning Shooting Stars event. And rookie Carter Bryant, who has recently started playing regularly with the Spurs, was one of the headliners of the slam dunk contest.

Bryant was selected late as a replacement for the Rising Stars Tournament due to an injury to Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward. He was impressive during his first All-Star Weekend appearance, showing some of the defensive ability that the Spurs knew they were getting when they drafted him.

In the first Rising Stars game as part of Team Vince, Bryant finished with four points, one rebound and one blocked shot in a little over five minutes. In the second game, as Team Vince won the Rising Stars championship, Bryant finished with five points, one rebound and one steal, while shooting a perfect 2-of-2, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range.

For Bryant, being able to participate in All-Star Weekend as a rookie was a testament to the hard work he has put in since being drafted.

“On my side, I feel like the work I’ve put in is being seen and my teammates have held me to a standard that’s allowed me to perform a certain way,” Bryant told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. “Obviously with injuries, it took something for that to happen, but I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I’ve performed well enough this season, whether it’s the last few games, to get a chance to play in the Rising Stars game. It’s an honor.”

Not only was Carter Bryant given the opportunity to participate in the NBA’s premier weekend, but it was a homecoming for the Spurs rookie. His father D’Sean has been a longtime prominent figure in the Southern California basketball scene, having played in college at Long Beach State before moving into coaching high school basketball.

Bryant grew up in Southern California and played his senior year of high school at local powerhouse Corona Centennial. He also played for his father at Fountain Valley and Sage Hill, two other local high schools. One of the greatest things for him about attending All-Star Weekend was the presence of his family.

Bryant said, “Growing up, All-Star Weekend is everything to a kid, especially when you love the game. The best players in basketball get together and make things happen.” “But for it to be in my hometown, and to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed of, I’m so happy. Just being able to be with my family, being able to have my loved ones supporting me, it means everything.”

And as a local kid, it was former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, the late Kobe Bryant, who provided him with his favorite All-Star memory.

Bryant said, “I would say the one that really stood out was Kobe’s last All-Star Game. Being a Southern California kid, being a kid growing up with Kobe, when he got to the All-Star Game in Toronto last year.” “That whole weekend in general, from the dunk contest to the All-Star Game, having the iconic moments in that whole thing, it was dope.”

Carter Bryant’s having a party with the Spurs

The Rising Stars Game was not the only event Carter Bryant attended during All-Star Weekend. He was also selected for the Slam Dunk Contest. He made it to the final round of the competition where he ultimately lost to Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat.

Although Bryant did not win the dunk contest, he had a good performance overall. He explained how the event has served as a rising party for young players in the past. As he begins his rookie year with the Spurs, he feels like his All-Star Weekend participation could be a springboard for his own career.

“I think the one thing that’s been missing over the years is the swagger and confidence that a lot of the great guys had that originally did it. … It was kind of a coming out party for a lot of guys. A lot of young guys came in, they were really young players, but they wanted to do the dunk contest,” Bryant said, “kind of bringing that energy back to the dunk contest, having confidence in myself that I’m confident in the work that I do. I have a God-given ability because of my athletic talent and being able to display it.”

It was just before the All-Star break when Bryant got his first real opportunity in the Spurs rotation. Selected 14th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he played consistently during the first few months of the regular season, but did not receive consistent playing time until February.

In the six games played just before the break, he scored in double figures three times, including a career-high 16 points in a blowout win against the Los Angeles Lakers. During that time, Bryant showed signs of being a reliable 3-point shooter. He shot a combined 44 percent from distance, a huge increase from his season average of 32.9 percent.

As far as what it takes to succeed in the NBA, one thing he has learned is patience.

Bryant said, “Patience is everything. I would say that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned. Understanding that not everything is going to be on your terms, what a great lesson that’s been.” “Having good vets and a great coaching staff, being able to sit down with a lot of the guys on the coaching staff… even in the video room, talking to the training staff about how to properly take care of my body. They’ve seen guys who have done this for a long time and had a chance to play 20 years.”

Bryant added, “That’s the ultimate goal, to play a long time and be a great player.” “Being able to pick those brains and not dwell in those moments when you feel like you can’t do anything right.”

But in addition to his offensive abilities, the defensive end of the court has been an area where Bryant has shined in his rookie season. When it comes to the Spurs’ regular rotation players, Bryant is top-10 on the team in defensive rating, according to Statmuse.

Offense in the NBA sometimes comes and goes, and the number of shots and opportunities players get often varies from game to game. But the defensive end of the court, is something that cannot be compromised. Defensively the effort and energy must always be there, no matter how many shots the player attempts.

This is a part of Bryant’s game that he is 100 percent confident he can make an immediate impact on.

Bryant said, “I don’t think you can put anybody in front of me that I can’t compete with. I embrace the competition. That’s what I grew up on. I grew up watching Kobe. I grew up watching those guys attack each other every night.” “When I grew up watching NBA basketball there were no buddy-buddy guys. It’s just the mentality, I’m trying to bring the understanding that every night is an opportunity to show what you’re made of.”

At the time of the All-Star break, the Spurs were in second place in the Western Conference standings, and were being mentioned among potential title contenders. As it stands, they are 40-16 in the West, have won eight straight games and are only two and a half games behind the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Players always have goals they want to achieve during the season, especially young players who are experiencing the NBA for the first time. But not Bryant. For him, all personal things will come in time. Right now, it is about maximizing his potential to help the team win.

Bryant said, “Making the playoffs, and with the talent that we have and the team that we have, we’re capable of making the finals. I think we’re there. I think we have a lot of guys that really work to their potential, and I think we have a good balance of vets and young guys.” “We all go to work understanding what the chances are for us as a team. I think that’s the thing for me, I’m not worried about any individual things.”

Bryant added, “Things like this come with time and come with winning.” “Winning is the first priority.”

Many people said that the NBA had an All-Star Weekend issue, and there may be some truth in that. Over the years, the All-Star Game has been criticized when it comes to the competitive nature of the competition. As far as All-Star Saturday Night goes, many people weren’t fans of how the dunk contest went.

According to NBA communications, there seems to be a big change this year and it is reflected in viewership.

“More than 46 million people in the US watched NBA All-Star weekend across NBC platforms and ESPN, the most in 24 years and more than triple the total from last season,” NBA Communications wrote on Twitter.

This is a huge deal for the NBA, and it shows that they are on the right track with the small changes they made this time. One of the things they did was change the format of the actual All-Star Game, because it was three different teams, and they played in a tournament-style game.

Players seemed to like this format, and with it performing so well, there’s a good chance Adam Silver will bring it back next year, and possibly for years to come.

As far as All-Star Saturday Night goes, the one thing that caught everyone’s attention this year was the three-point contest, as Damian Lillard won despite not playing this season for the Portland Trail Blazers.

The dunk may have been overwhelming for some people, but it is still a contest that everyone loves to watch.

The Rising Stars Challenge was also competitive this season and brought viewership throughout the weekend. There will likely be some changes for next year, but for the most part, it seems like the NBA may have done something right in the way it executed the week for fans.

Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker revealed that while the 3-Point Contest invite surprised him last weekend, he couldn’t escape the OG label from others, including first-time All-Star Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Booker, 29, was the elder statesman of Team USA stars, among his fifth selections at the star-studded event.

For this, seeing Booker on the same team as him came as a surprise For Holmgren.

“Is that Devin Booker? On the young team? He could stretch it out a few years,” Holmgren said.

76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey gave Booker the same treatment.

“How are you, old man?” Maxey said, to which Booker resigned from being one of the older players on the All-Star Game team.

“I’m the old man here, huh?” Booker said. “That’s madness.”

Chet Holmgren: “Is that Devin Booker? On the young team? He could stretch it out a few years.”

Tyrese Maxi: “What’s up old man?”

Devin Booker couldn’t escape UNC jokes in USA Stars locker room

(via @NBAAllStar)
pic.twitter.com/mP5N3k0WpF

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 16 February 2026

In the end, Team USA Stars, including Chet Holmgren and Tyrese Maxey, defeated Team USA Stripes. Nevertheless, this was possibly the first time that Booker was the oldest player on his team.

Devin Booker hints at retirement from 3-point contest

Suns All-Star Devin Booker fell three points short of winning this year’s 3-Point Contest, losing in the final round as he missed his final three shots that could have crowned him champion. The Blazers’ Damian Lillard won with a final score of 29 to Booker’s 27, despite having the highest score in the final round (30).

According to Duane Rankin of AZ Central, after losing by two points, Booker talked about the 2026 3-Point Contest, which would potentially be the last contest he will participate in.

“It hurt a little bit. I wanted it so bad. I wish I was defending it in Phoenix, but if I get an invite it’ll probably be the last time next year. I’m looking forward to it,” Booker said, according to Duane Rankin of AZ Central, formerly of AZ Central, on Twitter.

Lillard, who missed a game due to his Achilles injury, brought the trophy back to Portland.

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has always been a major part of All-Star Weekend. It’s an event we always looked forward to seeing as kids, and it’s arguably the most searched-for NBA content on YouTube, as fans always want to relive amazing moments from Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Zach LaVine, and Aaron Gordon, among many others. It wasn’t that long ago that this competition meant anything.

Nowadays, the dunk contest is seen as something that makes us all ask, “Do we need to do this?”

At this point the event seems forced upon us, especially when it has overstayed its welcome and simply lost its touch.

If the tremendous dunk contests of the past several years were any indication of where this All-Star event has come to an end, Saturday night (technically afternoon) in Inglewood was the icing on top of the cake.

What was memorable about this incident, other than Jess Richardson almost being seriously injured when he fell hard on the court after attempting a dunk off the edge of the backboard? Honestly, can anyone remember what has happened at this event during All-Star Weekend the past few years, other than Mac McClung, who is the only player who has played a total of 10 NBA games in his career?

Frankly, getting the league to try to get players to participate in this event has been almost like pulling teeth over the years. This is especially true because star players aren’t as sought after as they were with the 3-point contest or the All-Star Game.

Lack of stars ruined the event

It wasn’t long ago that stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and others were competing in the dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. Although they were small at the time and the event has always catered to young players looking to make a name for themselves, it has suddenly become something that no one wants to participate in.

Jaylen Brown has been the only All-Star talent to participate in the event over the past several years. We see players and stars all the time talking about how the dunk contest should be changed, fixed, and saved, yet none of them are willing to step up and be the solution.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the problem here. The reason past dunk contests with Carter, Jordan, LaVine and Gordon have always been talked about is that they not only cared about putting on a show, but they were also willing to be the face of the event.

Nobody wants to do that these days except a G League player, which is why the talent in the dunk contest has been extremely low over the past few seasons.

This should in no way be taken as a disrespect to this year’s participants: Keshad Johnson, Carter Bryant, Jace Richardson and Jackson Hayes. These people did what they could, and should really be commended for making this program happen when so many others turned down the opportunity to participate.

Also, what have any of these players actually done that made people flock to this event and think it would be any different from the disappointments of almost every dunk contest over the years? Bryant and Richardson are rookies who have barely played, Hayes has been a backup big man for most of his career, and Johnson has played a total of 257 minutes in his career.

Unless they’re a fan of one of these four players’ teams or are a basketball buff like yours truly, the average NBA fan doesn’t know anything about this year’s participants. This is a big problem, and this issue has existed for years in relation to the Dunk Contest.

Needless to mention, Hayes criticized the dunk contest after the event on Saturday night, claiming he would rather be in Hawaii than Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend festivities. When a lesser-known player is saying this, there is a serious problem with spectacle.

After all, it’s not like this year’s event was all that memorable, as it was filled with a lot of dancing and a few dunks, most of which any player in the NBA could have done. There was nothing unique about this event, and it has almost turned into an event that fans are only attending and cheering for because they don’t want to let go of the past.

Keshad Johnson went under the backboard for this dunk.

pic.twitter.com/EHjdA3ADi5

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 February 2026

Even the young, rising stars, who can easily win the event and get a lot of endorsement deals and set the standards for the next generation, do not want to participate in the event. Prominent rookies and second-year players, who should see such an opportunity as an honor, are ignoring the event because it is not like it used to be.

VJ Edgecombe has had an All-Rookie and Rookie of the Year campaign this year with the Philadelphia 76ers, and fans would love to see him take a lead role in the dunk contest. But the Sixers rookie had other ideas and made it clear he would not be accepting an invitation to the event, giving no specific reason other than “I’m not doing that” and that he’s “cool.”

Perhaps the dunk contest has run its course, especially when every year it’s the same story of a disappointing event and star players pleading to save it. That’s exactly what happened in 2025, prompting Ja Morant and others to hint that this year’s event in Inglewood will be one to remember for years.

Ja Morant, Zach LaVine and even Giannis claimed on social media that they could save the event after McClung won for the third consecutive year. It takes that kind of energy to save the Dunk Contest, yet neither star participated in the event last weekend.

NBA All-Star Saturday has lost its touch as the dunk contest continues to dominate the headlines. But at the same time, that doesn’t mean All-Star Weekend as a whole needs a revamp.

All-Star Saturday still works… kind of

Fans and NBA media members alike have been very critical of All-Star Weekend over the years. More specifically, All-Star Saturday Night has become a major discussion topic, with some questioning whether it is even necessary anymore.

Just because the Dunk Contest has been disappointing and needs a change, doesn’t mean that every single fun event that basketball fans around the world enjoy watching should be abandoned.

The NBA 3-Point Contest is still a great spectacle, and one of the main reasons is that big names and elite 3-point shooting threats are willing to participate. Each of the past six winners of the event has been an All-Star talent, and Damian Lillard has now won the event in three of the last four seasons.

Less than 24 hours after the contest ended Saturday in Inglewood, Stephen Curry and Lillard made it clear they will be back in contention next season when the Phoenix Suns host All-Star Weekend.

For anyone who had any doubts about how serious Curry and Lillard are, these two are already teaming up to recruit Devin Booker, who said he would participate, and Klay Thompson, who Steph told Lillard via message that he would get them to sign.

With Lillard, Curry, Booker and Thompson, the 2027 3-Point Contest already has the best field in the event’s history, as all four stars have won the 3-point crown before. So, if the big names can come together to do this for one of the All-Star Saturday events, why can’t they do the same for the others?

This year’s All-Star Saturday Night, which took place at noon, started with a fun and thrilling 3-point contest that came down to Lillard, Booker and rookie sensation Kon Knueppel. Overall, it was a great event that no one had any problems with, especially considering that Lillard has been out the entire season recovering from an Achilles injury and he not only participated, but won the event.

The next order of business was Kia Shooting Stars, which replaced the Skills Challenge. Although it was not as entertaining as previous events, Shooting Stars brought a level of excitement with the addition of past greats such as Alan Houston and Ron Harper. Whenever the NBA can add former players and Hall of Fame talent, they should always take advantage of the opportunity.

But after these first two events, the Dunk Contest, which is always the headliner of All-Star Saturday Night, was a complete waste of time. The attendees hardly made any noise, and there was virtually no over-the-top reaction from current and former players present to watch the competition.

The dunk contest has lost its touch. Unless some of the league’s best dunkers and stars are willing to save the event, it’s time to join the skills challenge. In doing so, the NBA could create a new event that both fans and players have been demanding:

A 1-on-1 tournament.

Time for a new 1 vs 1 event?

One thing the NBA does really well is involving the players and letting their input help make decisions to better the league. Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA office have worked long and hard with the players union over the past few seasons to improve the All-Star Game, and we can certainly see improvements in terms of competitiveness on the court.

Both the NBA and the players deserve a lot of credit for making All-Star Weekend better than ever.

However, there’s still room for growth, and it all goes back to All-Star Saturday Night, with the Dunk Contest coming off as an event that overstayed its welcome. Down the road, it might make sense to bring back the dunk contest, but for now, it’s time to put this event next to the Skills Challenge.

As for what will replace the Dunk Contest and become the main event of All-Star Weekend, the NBA should look no further than the success women’s basketball has had with its unmatched 1-on-1 tournament. WNBA players have taken the event as seriously as their season over the years, and the event has generated a lot of interest among NBA talent.

At the 2025 All-Star Game, Kevin Durant spoke highly of the idea of ​​a 1-on-1 tournament and claimed that the league is full of amazing talent that could make the event stand out.

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy to predict who will come out on top,” Durant said on NBA TV. “I think there are a lot of guys that can come out here and put on a show in 1-on-1, so it will be a great addition to All-Star Weekend. We’ll see what happens.”

Durant talked about the idea of ​​a 1-on-1 tournament with Draymond Green and claimed he would play if the NBA added the event to All-Star Weekend.

This year, it was Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown who was the leading voice for a 1-on-1 tournament to be added to the All-Star calendar, as he fully supported the idea of ​​moving the event to All-Star Weekend.

“I’m really a big fan of one-on-one,” Brown said at All-Star media day. “There are some guys here this weekend that I would love to challenge. All of them. Luka (Doncic), Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), (Jalen) Brunson, Donovan (Mitchell). I would challenge all of those guys one by one. We can donate to any charity. Let’s set it up.”

With Durant and Brown publicly advocating for a 1-on-1 tournament over the past two All-Star Weekends, and many other stars likely feeling the same way, could we possibly see it debut in 2027? Maybe we could even see a 1-on-1 All-Star tournament replace the dunk contest for a while.

The NBA has some decisions to make regarding All-Star Weekend, and no decision is bigger than what happens with Saturday night’s activities, specifically the Dunk Contest. Unless they get stars and notable talent to participate, the event will continue to be disrespected and despised by players and fans alike.

Denver Nuggets cornerstone and proud Serbian Nikola Jokic is passionate about horses and horse racing, but he’s not the most animated person when speaking in front of a camera. The contradiction between his private life and public life was on display during a media session at NBA All-Star Weekend.

When the (seemingly) young Texan was asked “what kind of horse” he should get, Jokic offered a simple but honest explanation.

According to the Oh No He Didn’t “But I don’t know which one is the best… maybe the most expensive, that would be the best (laughs).”

“I live in Texas, and I want to get a horse, which horse should I get?”

Nikola Jokic: “The best… the most expensive, maybe he will be the best.” 😅pic.twitter.com/OYx7ZoCKap

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Jokic is probably bombarded with questions about horses all year long, as it’s one of the only things people really know about the man beyond his supreme basketball talent, love for the music of his native country, and the fact that he was modeled on a Taco Bell commercial. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection probably has a lot of knowledge about horses, but perhaps this wasn’t the right time or place for him to talk in detail about one of his most iconic breeds.

Still, this reaction would lend credence to the notion that Jokic is one of the most reckless superstars in recent memory. He’s certainly not the only standout player to display a reserved personality – San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan comes to mind – but there’s a growing perception that the 30-year-old center dislikes the attention. A column about his allegedly brief exchange with a Serbian folklore group after last Saturday’s win against the Chicago Bulls only added to fans’ curiosity.

No one knows what to expect from Nikola Jokic when he is in the public eye, because he is truly an enigma. However, there is no mystery as to what will happen on the court. The sensational big man is averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive season, leading the league with 12.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game and ranking in the top-10 with 28.7 points per contest. Had he not missed 16 games with a knee injury he would have certainly been an MVP favorite.

Jokic is a hoops expert and an avid horse owner. Those sides of him are different, but apparently they resonate with the public in the same way. He will start in his sixth consecutive NBA All-Star Game, then turn his attention to the second half of the 2025-26 campaign and then return to his favorite spot when his Nuggets close on business for the summer.