NBA All-Star Game Odds, Lines, Best Bets, Predictions & Tips

2023 NBA All-Star Game Details

Betting Odds Summary

Odds and lines currently unavailable.

All-Star Game Starters

Eastern Conference

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
• Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
• Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
• Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)

Western Conference

• LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
• Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
• Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
• Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
• Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

2023 NBA All-Star Weekend Events

The NBA All-Star Weekend has multiple events besides the NBA All-Star Game that avid basketball fans look forward to watching. The NBA All-Star Game is not the only event you can bet on, either, as the Skills Contest, Three-Point Contest and Dunk Contest are all options.

Below is the list of events for All-Star Weekend that you can watch during the break in regular-season action:

Friday, Feb. 17

• Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (7:00 p.m. ET)
• NBA Rising Stars Game (9:00 p.m. ET)

Saturday, Feb. 18

• Skills Challenge  (8:00 p.m. ET)
• 3-Point Contest (TBD)
• Dunk Contest (TBD)

Sunday, Feb. 19

• NBA G-League Next Gen Game (3:00 p.m. ET)
• All-Star Draft (7:30 p.m. ET)
• 72nd NBA All-Star Game (8:00 p.m. ET)

How to Bet on the NBA All-Star Game

Most sportsbooks offer NBA All-Star Game bets, but it is important to double-check before committing to one. If you do not already have a primary (or secondary) sportsbook, you can create an account on its site or app, depending on which you are more comfortable using.

When you decide on a sportsbook, make sure to utilize any first-time user bonuses or promotions that it offers. The process is simple for creating an account. You are required to provide basic information such as your name and address, but it only takes a few minutes.

Once the sportsbook verifies your information, you will be able to bet on anything it offers, including the NBA All-Star Game. The entire history, format and notable statistics are covered below and should help you decide whether or not betting on the NBA All-Star Game is worth it. You can see further instructions on this in the sections below. 

Now, let’s get into betting specifics, tips, and trends for the NBA All-Star Game.

All-Star Game History, Selection Process & Changes

The NBA All-Star Game was inaugurated in 1951, and the rules of the game are almost entirely the same as regular season or playoff games. The All-Star Game consists of two teams, each with 12 players on the roster. There are 12 players chosen from the Eastern Conference and 12 players from the Western Conference. However, the game’s format has changed in recent years. 

Instead of Eastern Conference versus Western Conference, which is what the game used to be for many decades, the format now (as of 2018) assigns a “captain” from both conferences, who then choose their teams based on the remaining 22 NBA All-Stars. The captains are selected by acquiring the most votes in their respective conferences. A year after this new format was introduced, the captains’ draft, where the captains select their teams, became televised.

The All-Star selection process has been changed a few times throughout the game’s history, but now it’s weighted in three different categories: media, fan and player voting. Fan voting makes up 50%, while media voters and players make up 25% apiece. 

In the past few seasons, the NBA All-Star Game has implemented a new element called the “Elam Ending,” which utilizes a “target score” format that keeps the game competitive in the fourth quarter, even if a team has a somewhat sizable lead.

The other major change that has taken place in the recent past is the starting lineup featuring non-specific positions. It is now made up of two backcourt players and three frontcourt players instead of each player being forced to be at a specific position. Still, the differentiation between a “backcourt” and “frontcourt” player has caused controversy in an era of truly “positionless” basketball.

Eventually, the All-Star Game starters will be based on the five players who receive the highest cumulative scores from the fan, media and player voting, regardless of position. This will be a seamless transition due to the captains choosing their teams. Thus, a team won’t necessarily have to roll out five guards or five big men.

All-Star Game Notable Stats and Records

Similar to regular NBA games, the NBA All-Star Game also has records that have been kept since its creation more than 70 years ago. Take a look at some of the single-game records and other notable records that are worth mentioning.

Single-Game Records

• Most Points: Anthony Davis – 52 (2017)
• Most Rebounds: Bob Pettit – 27 (1962)
• Most Assists: Magic Johnson – 22 (1984)
• Most Steals: Rick Barry – 8 (1975)
• Most Blocks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 6 (1980)
• Most Three-Pointers Made: Steph Curry – 16 (2022)

Other Notable Records

• Most MVPs: Kobe Bryant, Bob Pettit – 4
• Most Triple-Doubles: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant  – 1
• Most Team Points: 196 – West (2016)
• Most Combined Points: 374 (2017)

All-Star Game Betting Tips and Trends

There is no way to guarantee a profit wagering on sports, including on the NBA All-Star Game. Still, there are some strategies to help your money last longer when gambling.

All-Star Game MVPs Fluctuate

One of the most interesting trends in the All-Star Game is how scarcely there is a repeat MVP. Russell Westbrook (2015, 2016) and Bob Pettit (1958, 1959) are the only two players to win back-to-back MVP awards during the game’s history. 

This trend is likely not going to stop anytime soon, either, with the game being so high-scoring and volatile. Very little defense is played, and the player who gets hot at the beginning of the game will probably see the ball more than someone who doesn’t hit their first few shots.

Avoid the Point Total with Elam Ending

The “Elam Ending” complicates betting on the point total. There isn’t a large sample size of games with this ending, either, as it has only been instituted for a few years. This new ending sets a target score in the fourth quarter, inherently making the competition level increase for that quarter as time can’t run out and teams that are behind can make a comeback if they play strong enough defense.

It’s a great concept for an NBA All-Star Game and we have already seen why adding in the Elam Ending is fun, but it adds another layer of complexity to betting on the point total. It also can shut down an “Over” bet if the first three quarters of the game haven’t been incredibly high-scoring.

If you are experienced in betting on the NBA, you will be fine. If you are more of a beginner, however, at least as far as betting on the NBA All-Star Game is concerned, it might be better to look at the spread or various player props that are available.

Centers Scarcely Win All-Star MVP

The traditional big-man role in the NBA has slowly been phased out over the past decade. It is rare for a back-to-the-basket big man with no jump shot to have a place in the league unless he does something else at a high level, i.e. rim protection, defense, etc.

Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are the two best centers in the NBA, but recent All-Star Game MVP history has not been kind to big men. Shaquille O’Neal is the only center to win the award since 1994.

While it doesn’t make sense to eliminate Jokic or Embiid as a potential All-Star MVP candidate, you should only take their sports betting odds to win if they are quite long. Ball handlers and shooters have dominated the award in recent years, so keep that in mind.

Trends Lack Relevance for All-Star Games

Steph Curry hit 16 three-pointers in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game on his way to winning the NBA All-Star Game MVP. Was Curry on fire leading up to that game? 

Nope. In the 13 games before the NBA All-Star Game, Curry was shooting merely 35% from behind the arc, which is much lower than his career average of nearly 43%. Betting on All-Star Game MVPs is not as simple as which player has been the hottest leading up to the event.

Dunks & Threes

The NBA All-Star Game, much like the NBA, now revolves around three-point shooting and spectacular finishing. Mid-range shooting, defense and post-moves are virtually non-existent, especially in this game. 

For that reason, players who make their living shooting threes and finishing around the rim have the best chance to win the NBA All-Star MVP. 

Team Captains & Draft History

LeBron James has been a team captain in all five of the years that the new format has been implemented, and he has won five times. James is a superior drafter than other players, evident by his 5-0 record and the margin that his teams are winning some of these games. 

It’s possible that the fan vote pushes LeBron to be a team captain once again despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ mediocre start to the 2022-23 season. If James is a team captain again, betting on his team has historically been a good idea. In short, pay attention to which players draft solid, cohesive units and have a strong track record in the game.

Should You Bet on NBA All-Star Games?

You might now be wondering whether or not you should bet on the NBA All-Star Game. 

It depends on your goals. It adds an extra layer of entertainment to a game that already features high-flying dunks, deep three-pointers and flashy passes. Occasionally, the lack of defense can pull your attention away, so betting can keep you engaged from start to finish.

Due to the scoring volatility, point totals are challenging to bet on and have been made even more difficult due to the newly implemented “Elam Ending.” 

As far as All-Star Game bets are concerned, wagering on the moneyline, spread and player props is generally more straightforward. Still, this game is highly unpredictable, and there is no reliable way to make money betting on the NBA All-Star Game.