The Portland Trail Blazers made sure their presence was felt during NBA All-Star Weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. From Damian Lillard’s continued dominance in the 3-Point Contest to rising stars making their mark on the national stage, it was a weekend full of highlights and memorable moments for the Blazers and their fans.
Let’s break it down.
Rising Stars: Clingan vs. Yang
Friday’s Rising Stars tournament gave Blazers fans a glimpse into the future as Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen went head-to-head in the opening game. Clingan came out strong, swatting a couple of early shots and scoring the first seven points for Team Melo.
Yang, playing for Team Austin, didn’t shy away from the challenge. He showed off his quickness with a slick drive past Clingan for a layup and finished with 10 points.
While Yang’s team got the win, 40-34, Clingan still made an impact. He added six more points in a later matchup against Team Vince, though Team Melo came up short in that one.
Off the court, Yang had a lighter moment when he talked about his admiration for Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. “I can’t wait to kiss him,” he joked to reporters, clearly relishing the chance to be around some of the league’s elite. While there’s no confirmation that Yang and Jokic actually met, Yang did get the chance to connect with former Blazer Robin Lopez and NBA veteran Jeremy Lin.
Deni Avdija’s All-Star Debut
Saturday brought a milestone for Deni Avdija, who suited up as an All-Star for the first time. The moment hit home when he saw his jersey for the first time-a surreal experience for any young player making the leap to the league’s biggest stage.
Avdija also had a front-row seat for one of the weekend’s signature events: the 3-Point Contest, where Damian Lillard once again reminded everyone why he’s one of the game’s most lethal shooters.
Dame Time, Again
Lillard entered the 3-Point Contest looking to add another trophy to his growing collection-and he didn’t disappoint. He posted a score of 27 in the first round, tying for the second-highest mark and punching his ticket to the finals alongside Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel.
In the final round, Lillard caught fire. He knocked down 21 of 27 shots to rack up 29 points, putting the pressure squarely on Booker. And while Booker made a strong push, he cooled off late and finished with 27, giving Lillard his third 3-Point Contest crown in four years.
Afterward, Lillard was already thinking ahead. He hinted at wanting to bring even more star power to next year’s competition-calling out names like Stephen Curry in hopes of turning the event into a true headliner.
Given the mixed reviews of Saturday night’s Slam Dunk Contest, Lillard’s vision might be gaining traction. As one fan put it online: “This should be the main event!”
Sunday’s All-Star Game: Avdija Shines, Edwards Takes Over
Sunday’s action saw Avdija take the court as a starter for Team World. He made the most of the opportunity, throwing a smooth alley-oop to Pascal Siakam, drilling a three, and even getting up for a dunk of his own. It was the kind of all-around performance that showed why he belonged on that stage.
And the crowd watching from courtside? None other than former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. At one point, a loose ball made its way to the former president, who casually snagged it like a seasoned vet.
Team World’s run ended in Game 3, falling 48-45 to Team Stripes behind a scorching performance from Kawhi Leonard. Playing in his home arena, Leonard was nearly automatic-hitting 11 of 13 shots and 6 of 7 from deep to finish with 31 points. It was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when locked in.
But the championship belonged to Anthony Edwards and Team Stars. Edwards led the way with eight points in a dominant 47-21 win over Team Stripes, earning himself All-Star MVP honors in the process.
Edwards also delivered one of the weekend’s most entertaining off-court moments. When asked about being named the seventh “hottest” NBA player of all time by a social media account, he didn’t miss a beat: “My old lady ain’t going to like that,” he said with a grin. “I mean, I ain’t gonna lie, my momma and daddy did a pretty good job… They probably got me a little low on the list, honestly.”
All-Star Weekend always brings the flash, but for the Blazers, it also brought substance. Between Lillard’s continued excellence, Avdija’s breakthrough, and the promise of young talents like Clingan and Yang, Portland fans had plenty to cheer about-and even more to look forward to.