With less than a week before the best basketball players in the world and fans worldwide descend upon Salt Lake City and the state of Utah, the countdown is officially on for NBA All-Star Weekend 2023.
Apart from the typical events associated with All-Star weekend, the Jazz have made it their mission to ensure the four-day showcase is enjoyable for people of all ages.
As a lifelong Jazz fan, Ryan Smith vividly remembers when Utah hosted the NBA All-Star game 30 years ago, and how limited the attractions were for those who couldn't attend the game.
Although he didn't attend the marquee events, Smith recalls the vibe that took over downtown Salt Lake City. With people visiting from all over the world hoping to get a glimpse of the best basketball players, the energy was so palpable that it forever left an impression on him.
Now 30 years later, the NBA All-Star game is again coming back to Salt Lake City — and this time, Smith will have a much more active role. As owners of the Jazz, Smith and his wife, Ashley, have been working nonstop around the clock for the past year to ensure everyone can enjoy All-Star weekend.
"If you think about how many are really for sale, and not given to the league, teams, corporate sponsors, there's not as many tickets as you would think," Smith said. "There's Jam Session. ... We have free events. If people want to go, there's something for everyone. … And that's been really, really important to us, having been in that spot."
FAN EVENTS | All Times MT
NBA Crossover
Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19
12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The weekend-long event will showcase the intersection of basketball and culture through the art, fashion, music, technology, and entertainment surrounding today's game. NBA Crossover will engage fans in its largest footprint to date with immersive experiences, brand activations, live performances, NBA and WNBA appearances, limited edition merchandise and collectibles, art and memorabilia, apparel customization, and more.
It's been 30 years since NBA All-Star Jam Session was first introduced during NBA All-Star in Salt Lake City in 1993. In honor of that special occasion, this year will feature a revamped showing of All-Star's original fan event, including a designated "Jam Session" area with family-focused activities, including NBA-themed games and participatory programming.
GRIT Rail Jam, presented by the Utah Sports Commission, Utah Jazz, and Cactus Jack
Friday, Feb. 17 | 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18 | 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Free to attend for everyone of all ages, the Grit Rail Jam competition is a sensational opportunity for fans wanting to enjoy the energy coming from All-Star weekend festivities. Heavily involved in creating and setting the competition, Travis Scott worked with professional snowboarder and businessman Jeremy Jones to procure a deep roster of athletes for this two-day snowboarding competition.
The two-day event will feature some of the best professional and amateur snowboarders in the country as they look to master the handrails, walls, and ledges at Olympic Park at The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City. The Amateur Snowboard Competition will take place on Friday, Feb. 17, where the top male and female snowboarders who win will be allowed to join the pro competition the following day. The Professional Snowboard Competition is set to go on Saturday, Feb. 18, with Scott expected to attend.
Cactus Jack Pop-Up Shop
Thursday. Feb. 16 - Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 19 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
As part of The Shop Salt Lake City – an innovative pop-up retail activation that will be hosted at The Gateway – Scott's Cactus Jack collection partnered with Mitchell and Ness to have exclusive product drops throughout the week's events. Located at 16 N. Rio Grand, each day will feature new merchandise being dropped.
Cactus Jack Concert Series
Friday, Feb. 17 | Saturday, Feb. 18
Starting at 8 p.m.
Kicking off at The Depot in the Gateway Center, Scott has put together an incredible list of artists to perform an intimate concert series for the nights of February 17 and 18. Don Toliver and Sheck Wes will start the party on Friday night, while Chase B is the Concert Series DJ. Limited to just 1,200 guests per evening, the Cactus Jack Concert Series is officially sold out.
The Shop Salt Lake City | 16 N Rio Grande / 15 S Rio Grande
Thursday. Feb. 16 - Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 19 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Perhaps no surprise given its emergence as an integral part of the NBA scene, fashion will take center stage at the newest Jazz-sponsored event announced today. Free to experience, The Shop Salt Lake City is a pop-up retail experience for local and national retailers, with new merchandise being dropped daily.
GAME EVENTS | All Times MT
Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Friday, Feb. 17 | 5 p.m.
Jon M. Huntsman Center
After being on the same side for the past two years, Ryan Smith and Dwyane Wade will find themselves on opposite ends of the court come Friday. Feb. 17. As part of the annual Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at All-Star Weekend, Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, and Wade, minority owner of the Jazz, have been selected as the captains for the game.
Team Dwyane's coaches are as powerful as it gets in basketball, with two-time NBA MVP and 2023 NBA All-Star Game Captain Giannis Antetokounmpo and Olympic Medalist Lindsey Vonn heading the group. Giannis' brothers, Thanasis and Alex, are also part of the coaching staff. Helping Smith on the sidelines will be Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, two-time WNBA Champion Lisa Leslie, World Series Champion Alex Bregman, and Grammy-nominated rapper Fat Joe.
2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game
Friday, Feb. 17 | 7 p.m.
Vivint Arena
Capping off opening night of NBA All-Star weekend, fans will watch the future stars of tomorrow go head-to-head in a unique and thrilling format — one that will feature Jazz rookie Walker Kessler, former Jazzman Deron Williams, and Utah assistant coach Jason Terry.
The player pool consists of 11/10 NBA rookies, 11/10 second-year NBA players, and seven NBA G League players. The 21 NBA players, selected by NBA assistant coaches, will be drafted onto three seven-player teams. The seven NBA G League players, chosen by the league office, will comprise the fourth team.
All three games in Jordan Rising Stars will be played to a Final Target Score, meaning that a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of the clock running out. The semifinal games will be played to a Final Target Score of 40. The final game will be played to a Final Target Score of 25. Team A will face Team B in the first semifinal (Game 1), and Team C will play Team D in the second semifinal (Game 2). The winner of Game 1 will meet the winner of Game 2 in the final (Game 3).
NBA All-Star Practice Presented by AT&T
Saturday, Feb. 18 | 11 a.m.
Jon M. Huntsman Center
All-Star practice gives fans a behind-the-scenes experience to see how players and coaches prepare for Sunday's main event. Payers and coaches will participate in the annual Media Day with reporters worldwide. Following the conclusion of the media day, the respective teams will move to the court for live practice.
NBA x HBCU Classic Presented by AT&T
Saturday, Feb. 18 | 2 p.m.
Jon M. Huntsman Center
In what should be an excellent showdown from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Southern Jaguars (13-12) will take on the Grambling Tigers (16-8). Each team will play one more time on Monday, Feb. 13 but are currently tied for second place in the conference standings at 9-3 — Alcorn State leads at 10-2.
State Farm All-Star Saturday Night
Saturday, Feb. 18 | 6 p.m.
Vivint Arena
The second night of activities will conclude with the fan-favorite event, All-Star Saturday Night. Set to start at 6 p.m. at Vivint Arena, the event is a chance for the best players in the world to show off their respective skills.
The Skills Challenge showcases some of the game's most elite ball handlers and passers with a half-court shot to determine the winner. The 3-Point Shootout features the most elite sharpshooters in the world looking to prove who's the best in the game. Finally, it all wraps up with the fan-favorite and iconic Slam Dunk Contest.
NBA G League Next Up Game
Sunday, Feb. 19 | 11 a.m.
Jon M Huntsman Center
The NBA G League will have its top players on display in the NBA G League Next Up Game on. The game will feature the sport's next generation of talent with NBA G League players, NBA & G League two-way players, and draft-eligible prospects expected to participate. This matchup will feature future NBA stars, including players from G League Ignite, and the Salt Lake Stars, among others. For the first time ever, fans could vote for their favorite players to complete this competitive lineup.
72nd NBA All-Star Game
Sunday, Feb. 19 | 6 p.m.
Vivint Arena
The weekend's main event is finally here, as the world's best players will showcase their skills in the annual All-Star game. LeBron James (Lakers) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) will serve as captains and select their respective teams 30 minutes before tipoff in a pickup-style draft.