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Milwaukee Bucks: 5 events at All-Star Weekend where Bucks could compete

By Josh Cornelissen

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Eastern Conference All-Star Team drives to the basket against the Western Conference All-Star Team during the NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2017 NBA All Star Weekend on February 19, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Eastern Conference All-Star Team drives to the basket against the Western Conference All-Star Team during the NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2017 NBA All Star Weekend on February 19, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images /

4. NBA Skills Challenge

One of NBA All-Star Weekend’s newer events is the Skills Challenge, where players demonstrate their ball-handling, passing and shooting without any defenders in their way (I know, I know — sounds like the All-Star Game). The event first began in 2003, when current Milwaukee head coach Jason Kidd won.

Giannis Antetokounmpo took part in the Skills Challenge in 2014, the only current Milwaukee player to take part. Former Buck Brandon Knight represented the team in 2015, losing in the final round to former Houston point guard Patrick Beverley.

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In 2016, the NBA changed the format to pitting NBA big men against smaller ball-handlers. This new format has seen two straight “bigs” win, with Karl-Anthony Towns lifting the trophy in 2016 and Kristaps Porzingis in 2017. Although the NBA has not yet announced the format for this year’s Skills Challenge, we will assume the current format is applied again.

Antetokounmpo could certainly take part in the event again, although determining whether he is a guard or a big would be tricky. His status as a presumed All-Star shouldn’t make him less likely to participate, as last year five of the eight participants were All-Stars (and all were high-profile players).

Eric Bledsoe is another possibility as a guard who could be put into the mix. Injuries have hindered his ability to take part in All-Star Weekend events in the past, but unless an injury occurs in the next six weeks he would be available — unless he decides to participate in another event, which we will get to momentarily.

Finally, Thon Maker would be an interesting choice as a big man to take part. He has shown an ability to make crisp, timely passes and can also hit shots from outside. His handle is not the tightest out there, but with no defenders swiping in he could viably compete in the Skills Challenge. Antetokounmpo is probably more likely, but a number of his teammates could step up.

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