The All-Star celebration of Steph Curry is here in the Bay Area, but the festivities won’t include his anticipated rematch with WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu.
Last year, Curry and Ionescu put on a show in a novel, interleague event. Curry beat the Walnut Creek native 29 to 26 in what became the highlight of last year’s All-Star weekend.
Despite efforts to revive the competition, this weekend’s games will go on without it.
“We weren’t able to land on a plan we thought would raise the bar off of last year’s special moment,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “We all agreed not to proceed and will instead keep the focus on All-Star Sunday’s new format.”
There were talks of Curry and Ionescu adding Caitlin Clark and Klay Thompson into the mix, making it a 2-on-2 format. But Clark declined, saying she’d like her first 3-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star.
Related Articles
Kurtenbach: Steph Curry earned the party he’s hosting at NBA All-Star weekend
NBA All-Star weekend: How to watch the Rising Stars tournament
Kyrie Irving drops 42 to lead depleted Mavericks past Warriors
NBA All-Star weekend: What’s happening around Bay Area as basketball showcase arrives
Klay Thompson stuck in Mavericks’ chaos as Warriors visit Dallas
The Bay Area is hosting the All-Star Game for the first time since 2000. Events are split between Chase Center in San Francisco and at Oakland Arena.
Curry is the only Warrior playing in the All-Star Game, but many of his teammates are participating in one way or another. Draymond Green and Moses Moody are teaming up for the skills challenge, Buddy Hield is in the 3-point contest, Pat Spencer, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski are Rising Stars, and Quinten Post and Jackson Rowe are playing in the G League Up Next Game.
