NBA reintroduces Shooting Stars competition for All-Star weekend
The NBA Shooting Stars competition is set to make its return to All-Star weekend after an 11-year break, as announced by the league on Saturday, with four teams scheduled to participate in the event on February 14.
San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, along with his brother Ron Harper Jr. of the Boston Celtics and their father, five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, are part of a Shooting Stars competition that features three additional teams, each consisting of two current players and one retired NBA player.
Team All-Star is led by Scottie Barnes from Toronto, Chet Holmgren from Oklahoma City, and Richard Hamilton, while Team Cameron comprises former Duke players Jalen Johnson (Atlanta), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte), and Corey Maggette. Team Knicks includes Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Allan Houston.
The format of the Shooting Stars competition will consist of two rounds, with all teams participating in the initial round and the top two advancing to the final round. Each team will have 70 seconds to accumulate points by making shots from seven designated spots on the court, with each member shooting in a predetermined order at each location.
Ron Harper mentioned that he has cautioned Ron Jr. over the years about their younger brother, Dylan, during their backyard shooting sessions in New Jersey. Now, they all have the chance to compete together as a family. Ron Harper had a 16-season career with four teams, securing three consecutive championships with the Chicago Bulls (1996-98) and two additional titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-01).
“They used to compete all the time,” Ron Harper told ESPN. “I would always say [to Ron Jr.], ‘You better watch out because when Dylan reaches your size, he’s going to be formidable. He would respond, ‘Dad, I’m going to beat him all the time.’ I said, ‘I’m telling you, when he turns 13 or 14, he’s going to be just as strong as you.’ And it turned out to be true.”
Dylan was selected as the second overall pick in last year’s draft, following Cooper Flagg. Ron Jr. is a two-way player for the Celtics and has also played for the Raptors and Pistons since entering the league in the 2022-23 season.
The Shooting Stars competition first took place in 2004 during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, but it was discontinued after the 2015 All-Star Game.
The Harper brothers are also scheduled to participate in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars on Friday, the day prior to the Shooting Stars event. Ron Jr. will compete for Austin Rivers’ team in that contest, while Dylan will join Spurs teammate Stephon Castle on the squad led by NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
“In my mind, I thought every rookie made it [to the Rising Stars game],” Dylan Harper stated. “It is certainly a privilege to be in that position, to be among the few rookies selected for the game.”
The Harper brothers have not yet competed against each other in organized play. However, Dylan intends to defend against Ron Jr., who is six years his senior, and the rookie expressed, “I hope he guards me.”
“It’ll be a nice little family affair,” Ron Jr. told reporters.
