Skills Challenge

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Jordan Morey

Sitting at a pop-up podium on Salesforce Court, Myles Turner is losing his voice as he answers questions from the media.

When you’re serving as an ambassador for a franchise – and an entire city and state – during a global event, your voice gets a little raspier as the week goes on.

The longest-tenured Indiana Pacer hasn’t gotten much rest during All-Star Week, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since being chosen as the No. 11th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Turner has sung high praises for the Pacers franchise and the basketball culture in the Hoosier State.

During the 2024 All-Star Weekend, he’s now in the unique position of advocating for Indiana and, more importantly, giving back in the process.

“I take a lot of pride in just welcoming people to our city,” Turner said. “... So much pride. I think that people are starting to see why we are one of the better host cities. I think people come here for other events, but to have an NBA All-Star right here in a state that’s so deserving – a state that is born and bred out of basketball – it’s cool to see our fans come through.”

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Myles Turner All-Star Media Availability

Through Saturday morning, Turner had already dropped in on dozens of events during All-Star. While meeting with celebrities and NBA legends is an honor, Turner said the community impact events have been the most rewarding part of the experience thus far.

“That’s what matters the most,” Turner said. “Ever since my rookie year in Indianapolis, I’ve had my W.A.R.M. Foundation. I wanted to get active in the community as best I could. With all this visibility right now at this time, I think the league does a great job of revamping certain projects.

“The other day we went to the Christamore House, that’s something that’s been there since 1905, and they got a whole new STEM lab and court for the kids,” Turner continued. “Little stuff like that, and the visibility the league gets, is cool. The Simon family obviously has a lot to do with everything we do in Indianapolis. Their commitments have been amazing overall.”

The Pacers have made it a priority to make this year's All-Star Weekend the most inclusive and impactful one ever. As part of the initiative, NBA Cares is contributing $3.5 million in charitable contributions to support Indiana not-for-profits and historically Black colleges and universities, as well as 50 social impact and youth basketball events.

All weekend long, volunteer events have been organized to give back to the city. Many of the experiences in downtown Indianapolis have also been free.

While plenty of appearances remain on Turner’s schedule, he will suit up with his teammates for a basketball-related event this weekend. On Saturday night, Turner will team up with Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin – who won the Rising Stars MVP on Friday – during the Kia Skills Challenge at Lucas Oil Stadium. Turner said the trio of Pacers have big hopes to win the competition for the fans.

Turner, in his ninth season, has continued to prove himself as one of the top centers in the NBA, averaging 17.2 points on 52.4 percent shooting, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Last January, he signed a multi-year deal to stay with the Blue & Gold.

When asked how he would describe basketball in Indiana basketball culture, Turner said “riveting” is the best word.

“When you come to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and actually come to a game and experience what it means to be in those fourth quarters and everyone is on their feet, ready for that one moment, it’s just a riveting feeling,” Turner said.

Once All-Star Weekend is over, Turner said he will take a day for himself to unwind a bit. Until then, he will continue to show why Indiana remains a special place in the basketball ecosystem.

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Turner Takes Pride in Playing All-Star Host

Wheat Hotchkiss

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner spoke with the media ahead of All-Star Saturday night.

For the second straight year, Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis reached the final of the Skills Challenge at All-Star Weekend. After falling to Bam Adebayo in the finals a year ago, Sabonis came away with the title on Sunday night in Atlanta, defeating Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic in the finals.

"It was definitely fun," Sabonis said. "Since I'm here (for the All-Star Game), I said 'Why not? Let's do it again.' I'm glad I got it done this time.

"It's just a lot of fun to get out there. It's actually a good warm-up before the game."

Sabonis made quick work of Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle in the first round, nailing the pass on his first try while Randle botched his first attempt, then knocking down the 3-pointer to finish the round on his first attempt before Randle could even get a shot off.

PHOTO GALLERY: Pacers at 2021 All-Star Weekend »

That set up a semifinal showdown with Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, who had a bye in the first round. Doncic struggled worse than Randle on the passing station, while Sabonis once again was flawless, securing another easy win.

In the final, he faced off against Vucevic, who knocked out Chris Paul in a tightly contested semifinal. Sabonis trailed Vucevic slightly down the final stretch and both players struggled to hit the 3-pointer at the end. But the 6-11 Lithuanian fired shots in quick succession, eventually connecting on his fourth attempt to come away with the title.

Later that night, Sabonis made his second All-Star appearance official when he checked in to the All-Star Game for the first time to start the second quarter. He got the ball on his first possession, but missed a turnaround jumper over Kyrie Irving on the baseline.

He got on the board at the 8:04 mark, when he received a dish from Doncic and threw down a two-hand slam.

Sabonis' Team LeBron won each of the first three quarters, entering the fourth quarter with a commanding 146-125 lead. Under the new All-Star Game rules installed last year, the untimed fourth quarter set a target score of 170 (the leading teams' score through three quarters plus 24) to end the game.

Sabonis started the fourth quarter and quickly helped his team near closer to victory, corralling the rebound after Doncic missed a three and kicking to Jaylen Brown in the left corner for a three. Brown hit the shot and was fouled on the play. The ensuing free throw completed a four-point play and gave Team LeBron 153 points.

The Pacers big man checked out for the final time with his team leading 159-141. Damian Lillard took over from there, scoring Team LeBron's final 11 points and closing with three straight 3-pointers, the final one from halfcourt to seal a 170-150 victory.

Sabonis logged 18 minutes, tallying two points, one rebound, and one assist.

"During the game I'm sitting next to a bunch of MVPs," Sabonis said. "Obviously, it's the best league in the world. Hall of Famers, all-time greats, just trying to soak it all in. Leaving with a 'W' always makes it better."

By winning each of the first three quarters and the game, Team LeBron raised $1.25 million to be donated to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game MVP after scoring 35 points on perfect 16-for-16 shooting.

Pacers rookie Cassius Stanley finished in third place in the 2021 Slam Dunk Contest, which was held during halftime of Sunday's All-Star Game.

Stanley went first in the competition and threw down an impressive slam on his first attempt. After lobbing the ball up in the air, he caught it off the bounce with his right hand and went between his legs for a left-handed slam.

The Pacers rookie looked like he expected a perfect score of 50 from the judges, but he only received a 44. That put him in third place entering the second round, after Knicks forward Obi Toppin was given a 48 and Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons received a 46.

"I think my dunk was pretty good," Stanley said after the competition. "The judges thought it was the lowest dunk of the round, so that is what it is. It's an opinionated thing."

In the second round, Stanley originally appeared to be attempting a dunk where he put it under both legs, but couldn't complete the transfer on two attempts. He then changed course and tried a simpler lob into a one-hand tomahawk dunk, which he missed once before completing on the second try.

The judges gave Stanley a 37 for his second dunk, preventing him from advancing to the finals. He declined to reveal what dunk he had planned for the finals in case he is invited back to compete again, but did say that Sabonis was going to be involved in his last dunk.

Simons won the contest, defeating Toppin in the finals, which was determined by a 3-2 vote from the judges' panel, with Jason Richardson, Dominique Wilkins, and Dee Brown voting for Simons while Spud Webb and Josh Smith picked Toppin as the winner.

"I want to do it again," Stanley said. "I'll do it next year. I think I know what I've got to do and what I don't have to do."

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Sabonis Wins Skills Challenge in Second All-Star Appearance

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INDIANAPOLIS – The National Basketball Association announced Tuesday that Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis and guard Cassius Stanley will participate in events during NBA All-Star 2021. Sabonis will participate in the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and Stanley will compete in AT&T Slam Dunk on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where the league's annual celebration of the game will take place on one night for the first time.

Sabonis, who was selected to his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game last week, will also participate in the Skills Challenge for the second straight season. He finished as the runner-up in the competition during NBA All-Star 2020. Sabonis also previously participated in NBA All-Star Weekend in 2017 and 2018 as part of the Rising Stars Challenge.

Stanley, a 6-6 rookie guard, was selected by the Pacers with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He is the 12th Pacers player to take part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and the first since Victor Oladipo in 2018.

TNT's NBA All-Star coverage will begin Sunday, March 7 at 5:00 p.m. (ET). The Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest will start at 6:30 p.m. Coverage of the 70th NBA All-Star Game will begin at 8:00 p.m., and AT&T Slam Dunk will take place at halftime.

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Sabonis Wins Skills Challenge in Second All-Star Appearance

Sabonis, Stanley to Participate in NBA All-Star 2021 Events