The NBA All-Star festivities are upon us.
Officially kicking off NBA All-Star 2023, the NBA Ice Buckets challenge began today at Trolley Square in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Ice Buckets challenge is a perfect way to tip off All-Star weekend, as basketball fans, sports enthusiasts, and Utah locals and visitors to the state alike are invited to shoot their shot and prove that they have “ice in their veins.”
Contestants will be given 30 seconds to make as many shots as possible against five strategically placed hoops. Each bucket is worth a certain number of points, with bonuses happening throughout the round.
Thurl “Big T” Bailey and Quincy Lewis, two former Jazzmen who are now associated with the organization, proved that they have ice in their veins. Bailey is a Jazz TV analyst, while Lewis was just hired as the organization’s first-ever Director of Alumni Relations.
They kicked off the event with a head-to-head battle that was pretty one-sided despite their standing as former professional basketball players. Bailey, No. 5 all-time in Jazz scoring history, proved that he’s still got some game when he took down Lewis in back-to-back rounds as the crowd cheered for every shot.
Following up that act was a showdown between Jr. Jazz star Berke Tew and Utah’s iconic mascot, Jazz Bear. Despite some “interesting” and “questionable” techniques used by Jazz Bear, Tew represented the people of Layton well when he came out on top after dropping 68 points.
The NBA Ice Buckets experience will be facilitated through the NBA Events App. To play the game, which is free, fans must register through the app.
The challenge will be open from Dec. 2 through Feb. 19 during Trolley Square mall hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
All results will be uploaded on a live leaderboard to highlight top scores for daily prizes.
NBA All-Star isn’t just about Sunday’s game featuring the best players in the world. There is a broad schedule of events, giving as many fans as possible a chance to participate in the NBA All-Star experience.
The Ice Buckets Challenge is the first of many events that will take place from now until All-Star weekend on Feb. 17-19.
Visit NBAEvents.com or download the NBA Events App for the latest NBA All-Star news. The NBA Events App is the ultimate on-the-ground resource for Utah All-Star, providing fans with the most up-to-date information on event schedules, tickets, and exclusive experience.