2012 NBA All-Star Weekend Participants

The 2012 NBA All-Star weekend is one week away. The festivities will take place down in Orlando, and it will serve as a goodbye party for Dwight Howard, er I mean it will be a showcase of the games best players. Let's take a look at who will be taking the floor.

The Rookie-Sophomore Game has been retooled into the "Rising Stars Challenge." It will still feature the best 1st and 2nd year players in the league, however this year, Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley drafted teams of 10 to compete against each other.

TEAM SHAQ: (had 1st pick, list is in order drafted)

1. Blake Griffin, Clippers
2. Jeremy Lin, Knicks
3. Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves
4. Greg Monroe, Pistons
5. Markieff Morris, Suns
6. Kemba Walker, Bobcats
7. Landry Fields, Knicks
8. Norris Cole, Heat
9. Brandon Knight, Pistons
10. Tristan Thompson, Cavs

TEAM CHUCK:

1. Kyrie Irving, Cavs
2. DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
3. Paul George, Pacers
4. Derrick Williams, Timberwolves
5. MarShon Brooks, Nets
6. John Wall, Wizards
7. Gordon Hayward, Jazz
8. Thiago Splitter, Spurs
9. Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
10. Evan Turner, 76ers

Going to be fun to watch. Look how far John Wall fell. He could have a monster game.

3-Point Shootout:

James Jones, Heat (Defending Champion)
Joe Johnson, Hawks
Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Ryan Anderson, Magic
Anthony Morrow, Nets
Mario Chalmers, Heat

Eh. I'll take Morrow for the win.

DUNK CONTEST:

Iman Shumpert, Knicks*
Chase Budinger, Rockets
Paul George, Pacers
Derrick Williams, Timberwolves

Excuse me? Defending champ Blake Griffin is abstaining, courteously I'm sure. Also no Howard, LeBron, Westbrook, Rose, DeRozan, Gay, you name it. They got two rookies in the field. After a couple steps forward, the dunk contest is taking one back this year (in names anyway.) If Jordan, Wilkins, and Kobe are going to do the Dunk Contest, I think LeBron and Wade can enter.

*Not a good sign when they biggest excitement for the Dunk Contest is that Jeremy Lin is going to assist in 1 or more of Shumpert's dunks. Weak.

ALL-STAR Game:

EAST:

Derrick Rose, Bulls
Dwyane Wade, Heat
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
LeBron James, Heat
Dwight Howard, Magic

Paul Pierce, Celtics
Deron Williams, Nets
Chris Bosh, Heat
Joe Johnson, Hawks
Luol Deng, Bulls
Andre Iguodala, 76ers
Roy Hibbert, Pacers

WEST:

Chris Paul, Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Blake Griffin, Clippers
Andrew Bynum, Lakers

Steve Nash, Suns
Tony Parker, Spurs
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Kevin Love, Timberwolves
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers (hurt right now)

Biggest Snubs: Rajon Rondo (Celtics), Brandon Jennings (Bucks), Monta Ellis (Warriors), Josh Smith (Hawks), and Rudy Gay (Grizzlies).

Enjoy the weekend!

-Keefe