NBA All-Star betting: 3-Point Contest, Slam Dunk contest, and game's MVP

Negativity has increasingly dominated the discussions surrounding the NBA's All-Star Game and various events. While the festivities may have deteriorated, saving All-Star Weekend isn't toward the top of commissioner Adam Silver's growing list of concerns.

Enjoy All-Star Saturday night and Sunday's game for what it is, not what it was. At least watch with an open mind. We've got you covered with picks for the 3-Point Contest, Slam Dunk contest, and All-Star Game MVP in the revamped format.

👉 Check out All-Star Weekend events and odds on theScore Bet here

3-Point Contest odds

🏀 Pick: Tyrese Maxey (+600)

Donovan Mitchell leads the NBA in made threes, while Kon Knueppel, Jamal Murray, and Tyrese Maxey all rank in the top 10. However, Mitchell also leads in off-the-dribble threes. Those kinds of players don't always fare well in this contest because they're shooting off a rack, not off the bounce. That's why Mitchell is further down the oddsboard.

Bobby Portis has the best 3-point percentage of this group (45%), but he's attempted by far the fewest threes and is considered a worse shooter than his counterparts.

Damian Lillard is a complete wild card. He has yet to play this season while rehabbing a torn Achilles, making him the first player since 1989 to participate in the 3-Point Contest without appearing in a game. Chasing his third title, Lillard has previously dominated the event. Only Larry Bird and Craig Hodges have won three times. Lillard's health presumably won't be a concern, but there's a risk banking on a guy who hasn't seen any action.

Looking at catch-and-shoot numbers is beneficial. Kon Knueppel has made 327 catch-and-shoot threes, the most among the field and third-most in the NBA. However, a rookie has never won.

Tyrese Maxey has recorded the second-most catch-and-shoot threes. He's become a prolific shooter, drilling 38% of his shots from deep. Although his 3-point percentage has slipped over the last few weeks - likely due to fatigue - he's as good a shooter as anyone in the field.

Maxey's percentage also isn't as high as some of his competitors, but that's largely due to his high volume - he attempts 8.8 threes per night, the league's seventh-most. On track to earn his first All-NBA selection, Maxey winning the 3-Point Contest would add more accolades to his career-best season.

Slam Dunk contest odds

🏀 Pick: Keshad Johnson (+400)

It's depressing to look at these names and reminisce about how exciting the Slam Dunk contest used to be. Casual NBA fans tuning in might not even know any of the contestants, a problem for what should be the weekend's marquee event.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes leads this group with 75 dunks in 2025-26, though many of those are putbacks or lobs. As a 7-footer, Hayes faces a disadvantage in this event, since it's less impressive for someone that tall to dunk. Meanwhile, Carter Bryant has thrown down only nine dunks, but the rookie has showcased impressive hops throughout the season.

Jase Richardson is a storyline to watch because his dad, Jason Richardson, won the dunk contest in 2002 and 2003. The younger Richardson isn't a noteworthy leaper, but he could earn points with the judges if he pays tribute to his dad.

I'm picking Keshad Johnson, who has nine dunks in 21 games this campaign. He recorded a 42-inch vertical at the 2024 combine, the highest of any prospect that year and the top mark among the four dunk contest contestants. Johnson doesn't play much for the Heat, which is why few fans have heard of him. But this competition isn't about popularity or overall skill. Johnson is the highest flier in the group and is ready to make a name for himself in Los Angeles.

All-Star Game MVP odds

🏀 Pick: Anthony Edwards (+1100)

Another All-Star Game brings another new format that the NBA is experimenting with in an attempt to return excitement and meaning to a meaningless, unserious exhibition. This year, the league split the 24 players into three teams: one international squad and two American-born squads.

The hope is that players will be more motivated by representing their country. However, the international players aren't playing for their individual nations. They're on Team World. And the U.S. players are split into two squads, so it's not the best Americans against the best internationals.

Instead of picking which team will win an event that showcases players exhibiting less effort than a 65-plus pickup game at the local YMCA, let's target an MVP.

When most players barely try, winning MVP isn't too hard if you, well, try. Let's start with who won't win the award: Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic have shown a remarkable lack of respect for the event by not even pretending to care. So, who actually cares?

Wembanyama is the favorite because of his comments that he'll do his best in the All-Star Game and his plans to make it competitive again. He also has the talent to accomplish mesmerizing feats on both ends of the floor. Entertainment value is important for picking an All-Star Game MVP.

Let's target another fiercely competitive guy. Anthony Edwards has solid value as a high-flier and knockdown long-range shooter. While his intensity may have been inconsistent in the two All-Star Games he played in, Edwards elevates his performance against the league's best and is an unbelievable competitor. There's reason to believe he'll take over Sunday night.

Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more basketball coverage.

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