Knicks Keep the Momentum Rolling with Shooting Stars Win at All-Star Weekend
The New York Knicks didn’t walk away with the All-Star Game bragging rights-Jalen Brunson’s Team Stripes and Karl-Anthony Towns’ Team World both came up short in the main event-but they still found a way to leave Indianapolis with a little more shine. Brunson, Towns, and Knicks legend Allan Houston teamed up to win the league’s revived KIA Shooting Stars Competition, adding another trophy to a season that’s already seen them hoist the NBA Cup back in December.
For a franchise with eyes on something much bigger come June, this may not be the kind of hardware that gets a banner in the Garden rafters-but it’s another small victory in a season that’s starting to feel like it could be different.
A Family Affair in the Shooting Stars Spotlight
The Knicks’ trio wasn’t just out there firing up long-range shots solo. Each team in the Shooting Stars event had a designated passer, and the Knicks kept it in the family-literally.
Assistant coach Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father, filled that role, tossing dimes to his son, Towns, and Houston. Rick even broke out a custom pair of Kobe 5 “What the Rick” PEs-an homage to the NBA teams he once suited up for.
Jalen, meanwhile, rocked his own Kobe 3 PEs, adding a little personal flair to the moment. The whole scene had a wholesome, full-circle feel to it.
A Knicks legend in Houston. A current All-Star in Brunson.
A newly acquired big man in Towns. And a father-son connection that made the win feel more like a celebration than a competition.
The Return of Shooting Stars-and the End of the Skills Challenge
The Shooting Stars Competition hadn’t been seen on All-Star Weekend since 2015, when Chris Bosh, Swin Cash, and Dominique Wilkins last took the crown. But with the NBA deciding to retire the Skills Challenge this year, the league brought back the fan-favorite format-this time with a twist.
Gone were the cones and dribbling drills. In their place: a shooting showcase that leaned into the league’s modern identity-spacing, range, and shot-making. The NBA made it clear: if players weren’t going to take the Skills Competition seriously (and let’s be honest, that ship sailed when Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama bent the rules to their will), then it was time to pivot.
Enter Shooting Stars 2.0.
The Knicks’ team faced off against three other groups:
- Team Harper, a family trio featuring Ron Harper Sr. and his sons, Ron Jr. and Dylan
- Team Cameron, with Kon Knueppel, Jalen Johnson, and Corey Maggette repping Duke
- Team All-Star, featuring Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, and Rip Hamilton
But it was Brunson, Towns, and Houston who found the right rhythm and shot their way to the top.
Knicks Keep Building a Winning Culture
Now, let’s not get carried away-no one’s confusing a Shooting Stars trophy with an NBA title. But for a Knicks team that’s been building something real over the past two seasons, these moments matter. They reflect a franchise that’s finally found some stability, some chemistry, and a little bit of swagger.
Team governor James Dolan made it clear recently: the NBA Cup was nice, but the Knicks have their eyes on the real prize. That means playoff wins.
That means June basketball. That means chasing a championship banner that actually goes up in the rafters.
Still, this weekend’s win adds another layer to the Knicks’ evolving identity. They’re not just competing.
They’re winning. Whether it’s in Vegas in December or Indianapolis in February, this team is showing up-and showing out.
And if the Knicks keep stacking moments like this, they might just be ready to make a little more noise when it matters most.