The Future Is Still Mine.

No matter the reasons behind it, the news of LeBron James joining the Dunk Contest sent fan expectations through the roof.

With Han Sen already confirmed, last year's champion Zach LaVine, and now LeBron, this lineup promised a showdown even more anticipated than Vince Carter's legendary dunk contest.

Time flew, and by the end of January, the results of the All-Star fan voting and player votes were officially announced, along with the coaches' picks for reserves.

After finishing as the runner-up in last year's fan vote, Han reclaimed the title of All-Star vote leader in dominant fashion.

Kyrie Irving, too, earned a starting spot alongside Han in the Eastern Conference backcourt.

Additionally, the list of participants for this year's skills contests was revealed.

In the Three-Point Contest, the participants included Han Sen, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, J.J. Redick (who was leading the league in three-point percentage), Devin Booker, and Chris Bosh.

For the Dunk Contest, the final slot was awarded to the Magic's sophomore forward Aaron Gordon.

Another noteworthy twist came in the coaching assignments. With Steve Kerr ineligible to coach due to the Warriors' success last season, Lakers coach Byron Scott was selected to coach the West.

In the East, Pat Riley stepped in as head coach after the Heat's mid-season coaching change.

As February rolled in and the All-Star Weekend drew closer, the league saw a wave of minor injuries.

Most notably, Chris Bosh suffered a calf strain, ruling him out of the All-Star Game.

DeMarcus Cousins replaced him on the West roster, while the Lakers' Channing Frye took Bosh's spot in the Three-Point Contest.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers had their own injury setback. Mo Williams was sidelined with an elbow issue, opening the door for Norman Powell to step into the rotation.

Though Powell wasn't a natural playmaker, his role alongside Nikola Jokić gave him the freedom to shine as a scoring guard.

In a game against the Clippers, Powell showcased his potential with a hot shooting performance — 8-of-10 from the field for 24 points.

For Han, the good news was that his [Logo Killer] talent had hit a key milestone, boosting his confidence heading into the Three-Point Contest.

There was also a playful moment leading up to the All-Star break.

Nikola Jokić, selected for the Rising Stars Challenge, wasn't exactly thrilled.

"They really want me to play in this?" he sighed, plopping down next to Han during practice. "Feels like a waste of time."

Han smirked. "You've got to represent, Joker. Besides, it's good exposure."

Nikola rubbed his temples. "Think I can say I've got a groin strain? Just for the second half?" he added with a mischievous grin.

Han rolled his eyes. "Come on, man."

Jokić shrugged. "Fine, fine. I'll play. But only if it doesn't cut into my nap schedule."

Han laughed. "How about this? You play your game, and then you help me at the Dunk Contest."

"Help how?" Nikola asked, suspicious.

"You'll be my assistant," Han grinned. "I need someone to throw me lobs."

Nikola's eyebrows shot up. "Wait — you trust me with that? You sure I won't mess it up?"

"Of course I trust you," Han replied. "Besides, if I win, the prize money's yours."

Nikola's eyes widened. "Fifty grand? Seriously?"

"Yep."

Nikola scratched his head, clearly considering it. "Okay, deal. But if you miss one, I'm blaming the pass."

Han clapped him on the back. "Fair. Just make sure you're not too tired from your game."

"Please," Nikola scoffed. "I'll be fresh. I don't do dunks."

---

On February 12, Han, Kyrie, Jokić, and Coach Malone boarded Han's private jet en route to Toronto.

The All-Star Game was all about fun, and naturally, none of them traveled alone.

Malone brought his wife. Han arrived with Anjali. Jokić was accompanied by his girlfriend, Natalija Mačešić. And Kyrie? He brought Kelly Rivers.

Yes, Doc Rivers' youngest daughter.

The flight was lively, filled with laughter and conversation.

Once in Toronto, Han's schedule quickly became packed.

Canada may be America's northern neighbor, but Toronto was thriving — a global city brimming with opportunity. Under Armour wasn't about to miss its chance to capitalize.

Han, the Splash Brothers, Zach LaVine, Devin Booker, and other UA athletes were front and center at promotional events, showcasing the brand's growing influence.

It wasn't lost on fans that this year's Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest were essentially UA-dominated affairs.

Some speculated that LeBron's participation was less about winning and more about keeping Nike in the conversation.

The All-Star Weekend kicked off with Media Day.

Last year, Han's bold declaration of surpassing Jordan made headlines, but this year, the spotlight was firmly on Kobe Bryant.

"Kobe, do you want to win the All-Star Game MVP this year?" a reporter asked.

The question brought back memories of Jordan's second retirement and his last All-Star Game — when everyone bent over backward to give him the perfect send-off, only for Kobe to ruin it with a late-game foul.

Kobe smiled, clearly reminiscing. "No, I just want to enjoy the game."

While Kobe played down his MVP chances, others weren't so modest.

"We're going to get him that MVP," LeBron told reporters. "He deserves a perfect send-off."

Stephen Curry echoed the sentiment. "He's our generation's icon. I'll do everything I can to set him up."

Reporters naturally turned to Han for his thoughts.

"Han, we all know this is Kobe's final All-Star Game. You'll be matching up against him. How will you defend him?"

The question was a clear nudge — would Han ease up and let Kobe have his moment?

Han's response caught everyone off guard.

"I'm going to give it my all. That's the best way to honor him."

The answer hinted at a familiar narrative — the same competitive spirit that had fueled Kobe throughout his career.

The differing viewpoints made this year's All-Star Game all the more intriguing.

In a quieter corner of Media Day, Jokić wrapped up his Rising Stars Challenge appearance.

The format pitted Team USA against Team World, with Team USA winning a high-scoring affair, 157-154.

Zach LaVine scored 30 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to win the MVP.

Jokić put in a solid performance as well, notching 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists — flirting with a triple-double.

When Day 2 of All-Star Weekend arrived, the spotlight shifted to the Skills Challenge.

This year, the format had changed, splitting participants into Big Men and Guards categories.

Players like Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns represented the bigs.

In a surprising turn, Karl-Anthony Towns emerged victorious, sinking a clutch three-pointer in the final round to defeat Isaiah Thomas.

The result underscored a growing trend — in today's NBA, even big men needed to have a reliable outside shot to succeed.

Following the Skills Challenge, it was time for the Three-Point Contest to take center stage.

As the participants began to make their entrances, the crowd's energy surged uncontrollably.

Given the high-profile lineup, Kenny Smith, who was hosting on the court, decided to interview each contestant during their introductions, asking them to share a pregame statement.

Naturally, the spotlight was on the Splash Brothers and Han Sen, the three favorites to win the contest.

First up, Klay Thompson, who aimed his statement directly at his Warriors teammate.

"I lost last year, but this year I'm taking it back."

Next came Steph Curry, ever playful and confident. After famously quoting Han Sen two years ago with "Nobody wants to face us next season," Steph once again paid tribute to Han.

"So… are you guys here to fight for second place?"

The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter.

When it was Han's turn, the arena noise reached deafening levels.

Many fans hadn't witnessed Larry Bird's famous trash talk during his legendary three-point performances, but six years ago, they had witnessed Han Sen pull a similar stunt.

Back then, Han was one of the most hated players in the league. But over time, that moment had become a fan-favorite, a tale shared with reverence.

Once the cheers died down, Han leaned into the mic, smirking.

"Steph, remember when I told you 'the future is yours'? …I lied."

Before Han could even finish his sentence, Steph burst out laughing, and the crowd followed with loud applause and whistles.

It was peak Han Sen, delivering a show-stopping line that set the tone for the event.

---

Klay Thompson was the first to step up, and the crowd roared in anticipation.

In the first half of the season, Steph was on his own tier (T0) as the best shooter in the league. Han and Klay were right behind him (T1).

Despite the pressure of going first, Klay did not disappoint, posting 22 points — a solid start.

Next, James Harden and Kyrie Irving followed, each scoring 20 points, maintaining the high standard.

However, JJ Redick struggled and finished with just 15 points, getting eliminated early.

Devin Booker kept pace with another 20-point round, while Channing Frye failed to impress, scoring only 13 points.

That left only Steph Curry and Han Sen, and they faced an unusually brutal field.

The bar? Score 20 or go home.

Under pressure, Steph was up first.

Feeling the weight of expectations, Steph delivered a clutch 21 points — just enough to secure a spot in the finals.

But his expression showed disappointment. He hadn't performed up to his usual standards.

Han, as the final participant, stepped up.

Was Han feeling the pressure?

No. Just like six years ago, Han wasn't sweating it at all.

Back then, he had nothing to lose. Now, it wasn't about proving himself — his status as one of the league's top players was unquestioned.

His main goal? To have fun and promote both the league and Under Armour.

That said, three-point contests are all about rhythm. Han's shot started a little cold, but he warmed up as he went along, finishing with 22 points, tying Klay for first place in the preliminaries.

On the sidelines, Harden, Kyrie, and Booker could only shake their heads.

They were just there to fill out the field.

The top three contenders — Han, Steph, and Klay — were exactly who the fans wanted in the finals.

---

Steph was up first, visibly tense as he took deep breaths.

Despite the pressure, Steph scored 23 points — a strong showing, though not as record-breaking as last year's 27-point performance.

Steph exhaled deeply as he finished, relieved to have posted a solid score.

But then Klay stepped up, and Steph's relief quickly faded.

Klay caught fire, hitting every money ball in the final rack to score 27 points, tying Steph's record from last year!

Klay let out a triumphant yell, pumping his fists toward the cameras.

Even though it was a Warriors-friendly showdown under the Under Armour banner, Klay still took immense pride in outshooting Steph.

Han took the court as the final shooter.

For the first time that night, he felt some pressure.

But once he got into rhythm, Han looked visibly sharper than in the preliminaries.

By the time he reached the final rack, Han had already amassed 19 points.

The math was simple: If he hit all five money balls, he'd beat Klay and set a new record.

The crowd was on edge, cheering wildly.

But as Han lined up his final shot, he adjusted slightly too much, and the ball rimmed out.

The sound of the miss echoed throughout the arena.

For a split second, it felt like the collective heartbreak of thousands of fans.

But that sorrow quickly transformed into excitement.

Han had tied Klay at 27 points! Both players had matched the all-time record.

With both players tied, Kenny Smith approached them, asking how they wanted to settle it.

The usual options?

A 30-second shootout or a full extra round.

But Han had a different idea.

"How about we both shoot — at the same time?" Han suggested.

The crowd gasped.

Normally, the Three-Point Contest isn't a head-to-head battle, but Han's proposal would make it feel like one.

Klay immediately agreed.

After all, if they were going to crown a champion, what better way than a direct showdown?

As the arena staff prepared for the simultaneous shootout, the fans' anticipation reached a fever pitch.

The whistle blew, and Han and Klay began shooting, one on each half of the court.

Fans in the arena faced a dilemma — they couldn't watch both shooters at the same time!

That only made the showdown more thrilling.

After the first two racks, both players were neck and neck at 9 points.

The tension was palpable.

But at the fourth rack, the difference became clear.

Klay hit a cold streak, missing several shots in a row.

Meanwhile, Han had found his rhythm, transforming into a relentless shooting machine.

Heading into the final rack:

Klay: 16 points.

Han: 20 points.

Klay finished first, scoring a respectable 24 points.

But Han didn't miss a single money ball, finishing with an unprecedented 30 points!

Han Sen had just ushered the Three-Point Contest into the 30-point era.

With his trademark confidence, he raised his arms in celebration before the final shot even dropped.

Han's words to Steph had been prophetic.

Back then, he'd said: "The future is yours."

But now?

The future was still his.

---

All-Star Starters and Reserves:

East Starters: Kyrie Irving, Han Sen, Paul George, Kevin Durant, Pau Gasol.

East Reserves: Kyle Lowry, Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, DeMar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, Andre Drummond.

West Starters: Steph Curry, Kobe Bryant, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis.

West Reserves: Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh.

-End of Chapter-

Scoring Note: In 2010, the Three-Point Contest max score was 30 points.

Starting in 2014, with the addition of the full money ball rack, the max score became 34 points.