NBA All-star article

Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul Named Team Captains for State Farm All-Star Saturday Night

Official Release
Posted Feb 1, 2013 8:10 AM

NEW YORK -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) and State Farm® today announced that 2013 NBA All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul have been named captains for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference teams, respectively, for State Farm All-Star Saturday Night in Houston.

For the first time, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will feature a format that pits the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference in an exciting night of competition that will also raise money for charity. Wade, making his ninth All-Star appearance, and Paul, a six time All-Star, will lead the teammates from their respective conference that will be competing in the four All-Star skills competitions.

In addition, NBA Cares and State Farm will make a joint donation of $500,000 as part of the event, with $350,000 going to the winning conference's charities and $150,000 to the runner-up conference's charities. The Eastern Conference will be playing for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Make-A-Wish America, while the Western Conference will compete for Boys & Girls Club of America and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign. The charities were selected by Wade and Paul, the NBA, and State Farm.

"State Farm All-Star Saturday Night is a night for the fans and the events provide some of the most memorable moments in NBA history," said Paul. "Not only are we playing for bragging rights, but we are also raising money for charity, so it is definitely going to be a great night."

"I'm honored to serve as the captain and represent the Eastern Conference in the first All-Star Saturday Night that will feature the East taking on the West," said Wade. "We are looking forward to a night of rivalries, great competition, and most of all, putting on a great show for the fans."

As part of the new format, points earned by each conference during the competitions will determine the conference that earns the title of 2013 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night Champion.

State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, an all-inclusive skills showcase, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Toyota Center in Houston and will be televised live by TNT at 8 p.m. ET. The event consists of Sears Shooting Stars, a competition featuring NBA players, WNBA players, and NBA legends; the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, a contest of top guards working against the clock to complete a series of passes, free throws, layups and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest; and the Sprite Slam Dunk contest.

The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Toyota Center, which will also host the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. NBA All-Star Jam Session, the hugely successful interactive basketball celebration, will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center and will host the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the Sprint Pregame Concert.

2013 will mark the 29th year that Turner Sports will provide NBA All-Star coverage, and the 11th consecutive year the All-Star Game will be televised in primetime on TNT. The All-Star Game will be seen by a worldwide television audience in 215 countries and territories and 47 languages.

During NBA All-Star 2013, the NBA will continue to celebrate its tradition of and commitment to social responsibility with a schedule of NBA Cares events. NBA Cares will partner with schools, government, and local nonprofit organizations in Houston and surrounding areas to highlight the league's grassroots and community initiatives that reach millions of young people and their parents while providing critical resources to community-based programs.