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We are heading towards the business end of the 2019-20 NBA season - although there will be a temporary break in the action this weekend as the basketball world shifts its focus to the much anticipated 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend.
This year's annual event will take place in Chicago, and in addition to the headline All-Star Game, NBA fans can also look forward to the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, 3 Point Contest, and Dunk Contest.
So, with plenty to unravel, here we will take a look at the most likely winners from each event.
Rising Stars Challenge
Due to the growing number of overseas players playing in the NBA, the Rising Stars Challenge is starting to gain considerable momentum. The event sees a United States roster take on a Rest of the World squad, and several huge names are involved.
Team USA will be fronted by breakout rookie Ja Morant, while Trae Young and Zion Williamson are among the other notable names.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic will lead Team World's hopes, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and RJ Barrett among the sophomore stars hoping to have an impact.
Both rosters contain plenty of quality, and while Team World possesses the best player (Doncic), Team USA has the better depth, and Williamson, Morant, and Young could put on a real show.
Predicted Winner - Team USA
Predicted MVP - Zion Williamson
Skills Challenge
The Taco Bell Skills Challenge is always one of the most difficult events to predict due to its unique nature, and there is once again a crowded field of talented players.
Bam Adebayo, Patrick Beverley, Spencer Dinwiddie, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, Pascal Siakam, and Jayson Tatum will all test their passing, shooting, and dribbling skills in Toronto - with Beverley and Tatum among the previous winners of the event.
Tatum took home the trophy last year after seeing off Trae Young in the final, although it is worth noting that the Celtics man often trailed until the final three-point shot.
He will once again be in the mix, although Gilgeous-Alexander's skillset appears to be the best fit for the competition - and the OKC star heads to Chicago as the favorite.
Predicted Winner - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
3-Point Contest
After announcing his participation earlier this month, Damian Lillard appeared to be the favorite to take home the MTN Dew 3-Point Contest trophy. However, the 29-year-old has since been ruled out through injury, leaving a wide-open contest between Davis Bertans, Devonte' Graham, Joe Harris, Buddy Hield, Zach LaVine, Duncan Robinson, Devin Booker, and Trae Young.
Harris is the defending champion having beaten Steph Curry to the title last year, and the Nets star is shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc this season.
Graham, Young, and Hield are all shooting below 38 percent, but Harris could face competition from Miami's Robinson who is shooting 43.8% and Washington's Bertans (42.4 percent).
Ultimately, it could be a shootout between the trio, and Robinson, who has been catching fire from three-point range over the past month heads to Chicago as the slight favorite.
Predicted Winner - Duncan Robinson
Slam Dunk Contest
For months, NBA fans hoped that they would finally get to see Aaron Gordon face off against Zach LaVine in the Slam Dunk Contest.
However, while Gordon has returned, LaVine opted to skip the event in favor of the 3-Point Contest. With LaVine out of the picture for at least another season, Gordon will take on Pat Connaughton, Derrick Jones Jr., and Dwight Howard.
Admittedly, Howard's return to the Dunk Contest after more than a decade is a great story, but there is little to suggest that either the Laker star or Connaughton can challenge for the title. Instead, we are likely to see a duel between Gordon and Jones.
As a high-flying dunker that impressed back in 2017, Jones will push Gordon in the Finals, but the Orlando Magic star has thought up some of the most impressive and creative dunks in the contest's history and he should finally have enough to take home the award at the third time of asking.
Predicted Winner - Aaron Gordon
All-Star Game
The 2020 All-Star Weekend will conclude with the showcase All-Star Game, with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo captaining the two sides for the second consecutive year.
Giannis will start alongside Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Kemba Walker, and Trae Young, while James will play alongside Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, and James Harden.
When assessing the starting lineups, LeBron arguably managed to grab four of the best five players available, and the Los Angeles superstar can also call upon reserves such as Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic, and Ben Simmons.
Admittedly, Giannis also has quality on the bench in Jimmy Butler, and Rudy Gobert - although Team LeBron is clearly the better roster on paper.
Predicting the MVP winner is more difficult; the award is almost always awarded to a member of the winning team and Anthony Davis could lead Team LeBron in both points and rebounds.
Predicted Winner - Team LeBron
Predicted MVP - Anthony Davis
