2020 NBA All-Star Game

Bulls.com

Bulls second year center Wendell Carter Jr. helped launch the All-Star weekend festivities Friday morning, though more as a spectator at the Rising Stars game practice at Wintrust Arena.

Carter is inactive due to a sprained ankle, though he told reporters his plan is to play when the Bulls resume their regular season schedule Thursday in the United Center against Charlotte.

Carter injured his ankle Jan. 6 against Dallas when he landed on the foot of Dwight Powell. Carter was averaging 11.7 points and a team high 9.9 rebounds and had played every game. He was among the league leaders with 17 double/doubles. It was estimated then he would miss four to six weeks. This Monday will be six weeks. Carter was replaced for the Friday night game with Zion Williamson.

"I'm definitely feeling a lot better," Carter said as the freshmen and sophomores prepared for practice. Continuously doing therapy. I want to be back the next game. That's what I'm shooting for right now. I don't know if that's going to happen; that's definitely what I'm shooting for."

The Bulls are hoping that Carter as well as Otto Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen will return to play during the next week or two and the Bulls can take a shot and make one final push for that long discussed playoff goal for this season. Carter still believes it's possible despite the season of setbacks and disappointments. Plus, Carter said after a shaky start he's on board with coach Jim Boylen.

"Jim is definitely a different coach than from what I've had," Carter said in response to a media question. "He shows a lot of passion. He speaks what's on his mind. At first we didn't get along as well as I would have thought. But as I got to know him and the fact he just wants us to be great and he really cares for us and wants us to play well, I love him now. He's one of my favorite coaches I've had. I'm looking forward to growing with him in the years to come.

"The fact he was coming in late at night; he'd come in and help me," Carter explained. "He'd come and rebound for me. He showed he really cared; that's something I admire and I respect the fact he does that.

"I feel we have to get healthy," Carter added about the priority. "Just the fact I haven't been healthy again (missing the last three months of 2018-19 with a thumb fracture). It kind of sucks I wasn't able to help my team as much (again). I feel like the health aspect is the most important right now and once we get healthy we can evaluate what we need to work on. I see a (playoff) possibility for this year. I feel once I come back and am able to play for my team I feel we can win enough games to get into the playoffs. That's my mind set."

Carter also is joining several of his teammates, former Bulls and team ambassadors as unofficial hosts for the All-Star weekend at a plethora of league sponsored events.

"This is exciting," said Carter. "Seeing a lot of famous people, a lot of celebrities, a lot of All-Stars walking around the city. It sends a rush. At the same time, these are people I've played against night in and night out. I am also excited to enjoy the festivities for the weekend and see everyone in my town. I definitely know all the good food spots, all the good shopping centers, so they have to come and ask me.

"It feels good knowing I was recognized as one of the best second year players in the league (even though I cannot play)," Carter said. "It's disappointing I'm not able to run around with my peers out there. At the same time I get the recognition for my play, so I'll take that and keep moving. I'm excited for (the game) tonight; ready to get it going. It's also an All Star game (Sunday) and that's something I'm shooting for.

"I definitely think I'm on the right path to becoming an All-Star," the 6-9 center said. "When? I'm not sure. But I feel like the pace I'm going and my respect for the game, the way I play and how effective I am when I play, I feel I'm on a pretty good path to making it as an All Star. (By) just out working everybody. The only way for you to become an All-Star (there is) talent, of course, but outworking and showcasing every night and being consistent and showing the league no matter who you are playing against you are going to play the same. I feel that separates a good player from an All-Star."

And everyone knows you never can have enough of those.

The Bulls don't officially have one yet on the roster, though Zach LaVine has made a strong case. So is Wendell working the parties for converts?

"It can't be the weather, as you'll seen," Carter laughed about a Chicago selling point. "Probably the food. I've always said we've probably got the best food of all the cities. I think it's pretty evident (that) everybody kind of sees we're in a building stage. I feel like we're at a really good place, but we haven't been able to be healthy for a long stretch of games. (I believe) everybody kind of sees the potential in us. They know when we are fully healthy and fully active we are pretty hard to beat."

That's certainly something the Bulls have yet to prove, but at least they aren't discouraged.

"Second half of the season just try to go out and pick up where I left off from," said Carter. "That's an individual goal. As a team goal, just help my team bring together as many wins as possible and make a playoff push. A focus of mine is being more aggressive on the offensive end. That's something I want to showcase more, my passing ability and IQ for the game, the coach allowing me to make the right decisions, putting the ball in my hand (more). I feel I'm a pretty good shooter; I just haven't asserted myself as much when it comes to taking the three-point shots. I want to get up two or three three point shots a game; that's a comfort zone for me. I'm pretty confident. I know I can make them. I have to shoot more of them and more will go in."

And is there a Saturday Night Surprise to come?

"There are a lot of great shooters in the (three-point contest)," Carter acknowledged. "But under pressure he (LaVine) knows how to make a lot of threes; I think he's going to win it. When I found out about the dunk contest in Chicago I told him, ‘You've got to get in it.' l've seen him dunk in practice. It's crazy. Hopefully, he'll make a surprise appearance."

Friday was the 13th annual All-Star NBA Cares NBA service day when players and team and league officials volunteer for hands-on service projects, sorting and packing food donations and school supplies that are distributed to support students and families across Chicago neighborhoods. Former Bull Ron Harper was scheduled among the volunteers along with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Cuurent and former Bulls and Bulls staff and employees were spread out around Chicago for the weekend. LaVine, who will participate in the long distance shootout Saturday night in the United Center, was co-host of an e-sports video game tournament Friday. He and Carter participated in multiple electronic media interviews Thursday along with all the principal participants for the game and contests.

Lauri Markkanen helped host the Basketball Without Borders camp Friday at Quest Multisport....Cristiano Felicio is to work the camp Sunday morning...former Bulls Horace Grant, Ron Harper and Will Perdue were among NBA players to meet patients Thursday at Lurie Children's Hospital...former Bull Grant and Toni Kukoc were to join players for the Special Olympics game prior to the celebrity game Friday night...Coby White, former Windy City Bull Spencer Dinwiddie, former Bull Craig Hodges and Bulls ambassadors Cliff Levington and Mickey Johnson participated Friday in clinics for junior NBA Day...For the Making an Impact and Advancing Equality forums, Bulls assistant coach Karen Stack-Umlauf is scheduled Saturday for a panel discussion on Female Leaders Impacting Sports Culture and Bulls Marketing Vice-President Susan Goodenow will be part of the Innovative Partnerships panel.

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Wendell Carter Jr. feels he's on the right path to becoming a future All-Star

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United Center transforms for All-Star Weekend

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Sam Smith

The NBA announced tonight that Zach LaVine has been selected to participate in the 2020 MTN DEW 3-Point Contest during State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night. This is the first time a Bull has been selected to participate in the 3-point contest since Steve Kerr won the event in 1997.

LaVine has started in all of the Bulls' 52 games this season, and the 24-year-old is averaging career-highs in points (24.9), rebounds (4.9) and steals (1.40) to go along with 4.1 assists and 34.4 minutes. He has made a career-best 154 3-pointers (8th in the NBA), which is already the seventh-highest total of 3-point field goals made in a single season by a Bull in team history. LaVine's 3-point percentage of 37.6 is tied for the second-best in the league among players who have attempted at least 400 shots beyond the arc. In his 49-point performance at Charlotte on Nov. 23, LaVine made a career-high 13 3-pointers, the only player to own that many makes from three in a single game this season.

In his sixth NBA season, LaVine came to the Bulls in a Draft-night trade on June 22, 2017. He was originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He leads the Bulls in scoring, field goals made and attempted, 3-pointers made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, and minutes played. LaVine has led the Bulls in scoring a team-high 38 times in 2019-20, as well as in rebounds nine times, assists 16 times and minutes 30 times.

The 34th MTN DEW 3-Point Contest is part of State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night, which also features the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and AT&amp;T Slam Dunk. Joining LaVine in the 3-point contest are Davis Bertans (Wizards), Devonte' Graham (Hornets), Joe Harris (Nets), Buddy Hield (Kings), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Duncan Robinson (Heat) and Trae Young (Hawks). All-Star Saturday Night will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States at 8 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star 2020 will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

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Zach LaVine selected to 2020 MTN DEW 3-Point Contest

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Zach LaVine on fire from downtown

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The NBA announced today that Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. was named to the U.S. Team for the 2020 NBA Rising Stars in Chicago, as selected by NBA assistant coaches. However, Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been selected by the NBA to join the U.S. Team, replacing the injured Carter, who has not played for the Bulls since sustaining a sprained right ankle on Jan. 6. Carter is not expected to return to game action until after the All-Star break.

Carter, a 20-year-old sophomore player, was the seventh-overall selection of the 2018 NBA Draft out of Duke. He played in 44 games his rookie year due to a thumb injury, and a right ankle sprain has caused him to lose 13 games this season. Through the 37 games he has played in 2019-20, however, he's averaging 11.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Carter's rebounding average is the highest among all qualified first- and second-year players in the NBA, and his 17 double-doubles this season are third-most. He is the fourth player in Bulls history to post 20 double-doubles within 70 career games. Carter owns 217 career offensive rebounds, and he became the fourth-fastest Bull to get to 200 offensive boards in his career, reaching that mark through 78 career contests.

This is the third straight season and fourth in the last five in which the Bulls have had at least one player named to this event. The 26th Rising Stars will pit 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world in the league's annual showcase of premier young talent during NBA All-Star. Rising Stars will air live at 9 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States. Tickets are available at NBAEvents.com.

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Wendell Carter Jr. selected to 2020 Rising Stars roster

Dunk you very much, but if Zach LaVine has his way he'd like to make some history during the All-Star weekend in Chicago next month.

He'd like to show the basketball world his unique versatility by becoming the first NBA player ever to win both the slam dunk and three-point shooting contests. LaVine, of course, won back to back slam dunk contests in 2015 and 2016 before his anterior cruciate knee injury.

"I don't think anyone has won a dunk contest and a three-point contest, so I'll try that one out. I would love to," LaVine said before the Bulls faced the Mavericks. "I would love to go out there and do that and I think I'll show them in past years what I was known for before just being a dunker is out the window. To win a three-point contest, I think, would be historic."

There's been sentiment from the NBA to see someone from the Bulls participate in the All-Star weekend events. LaVine, obviously, has long said he hopes to make the team as a player in Sunday's game. LaVine is 16th in the NBA in scoring and has a chance. It's expected that rookie Coby White will be selected for the rookie/sophomore game.

There were reports this week the Lakers Dwight Howard would return to the dunk contest. Memphis rookie Ja Morant and Miami's Derrick Jones also have been mentioned. LaVine told reporters in Chicago last month he's been thinking about participating in the dunk contest, had discussed it with his girlfriend and the league and he reiterated Monday he still hasn't decided.

"Hopefully they'll give me some time to figure that out," LaVine said Monday. "I know they're going to have to fill it up, but I think I might be able to have a little bit of leeway, hopefully, you know, in the home state. Figure out what I want to do. They asked me (to participate) last year. I think with it being in Chicago it is a big deal. So I definitely think they are going to help me try to get out there.

"I want to do something over the weekend," LaVine said. "I want to do the three-point contest.

"I need some time to practice (if it is the dunk contest), but I'm still mulling over the decision; figure it out in a couple of weeks, probably," LaVine said. "I still think I can go out and win. Obviously, if I do it I think I'll prepare myself enough to win it like I have. But it will be tough to top myself, you know. I gotta think of some new stuff.

"Like I said, I don't have a whole lot to prove in it. I want to make sure that my body feels right. I'm more focused on winning games," LaVine said. "I've got some dunks still. But like I said, (the most important thing to me is to) try and help this team, get this team to the playoffs. Really, I'm battling against myself."

LaVine seemed to make it clear both his preference and considering his past surgery what's best for he and the Bulls. Especially with LaVine among the league's top 10 in threes made and shooting 40 percent on threes this season.

"I think they'll probably be more obligated to let me do (the three-point) if I do a dunk contest too," LaVine said with a laugh. "We'll see."

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Zach LaVine Hopes to Make History at All-Star Weekend

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Bulls and NBA Tip Off NBA All-Star 2020 Community Efforts

The Chicago Bulls and the NBA today announced a season-long community program in celebration of the city hosting NBA All-Star 2020. The effort will bring together a group of leading Chicagoland community organizations to engage youth and support families in need while working to empower the next generation of leaders, including After School Matters, Center on Halsted, Chicago Housing Authority, Greater Chicago Food Depository, KultureCity, SocialWorks, Special Olympics, TAPS and Youth Guidance, among others.

As part of the effort, the Bulls and the NBA will organize a series of community and youth engagement programs using the power of service projects, the arts, community conversations and the game of basketball, including:

Earlier today, the Bulls and the NBA brought together 60 Chicagoland youth for an All-Star-themed clinic at the Advocate Center to officially tip-off the efforts. NBA Cares Ambassador Jason Collins and Bulls legends, including Horace Grant, Toni Kukoc, Bob Love and Mickey Johnson, worked alongside Bulls Youth Hoops coaches to lead on-court skill development focused on the values of the game.

"We are thrilled to bring the NBA All-Star game back to Chicago and we look forward to extending that energy into our community efforts all season long," said Michael Reinsdorf, Chicago Bulls President and COO. "NBA All-Star 2020 offered the opportunity to not only partner with the league but also join these leading community organizations in their tireless efforts to make an impact in our great city every day."

"The NBA is incredibly excited to come to Chicago this February, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with the Bulls on their season-long efforts in the community," said NBA Cares Ambassador Jason Collins. "We look forward to working with the team, community organizations and Chicago youth to amplify the work they do every day and use the power of our game to bring people together."

Outside of these efforts, members of the NBA family will also work alongside local community organizations and partners to support tens of thousands of children, families and people in need across Chicagoland through a series of grassroots programs and events during NBA All-Star in February.

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Chicago Bulls and NBA launch NBA All-Star 2020 season-long community program

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2020 NBA All‑Star Game