Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo's high-bounce dunk an All-Star highlight, says Bruce Bowen
Bowen assesses Hamidou Diallo's victory in the Slam Dunk Contest
Wednesday 20 February 2019 10:47, UK
NBA TV analyst Bruce Bowen reflects on a highlight-drenched All-Star Weekend and is looking forward to the resumption of the regular reason.
Curry and Giannis' high-bounce dunk
It's funny some of the things that transpire in an All-Star Game. For Steph, who is known as a three-point shooter, to bounce it off the floor and for Giannis to have the timing to make sure he goes up to complete the dunk, that was tremendous.
Those are the little things that people really get a kick out of.
More importantly, if you saw the reaction of the players on the bench, everyone knows how difficult [that play] is in terms of the timing aspect, [particularly] as the two players don't play on the same team.
It shows you the greatness of these athletes performing in the game.
Diallo's Dunk Contest win
I was impressed. I was excited. It's always good to see creative young minds when it comes to the Dunk Contest. It wasn't one guy or two guys. It was all four guys doing different things where you saw their creativity - things I couldn't even do in my dreams!
It's all about the creativity of the individual [dunkers].
The thing I don't think people realise is that these guys don't have time to warm up or shoot shots. You do your dunk and that is that.
When you have one the NBA's greatest centers in Shaq reacting like he did to [Diallo's dunk], it's fun. They want to put on a good show but they also want to compete.
LeBron's All-Star Weekend
I can't say LeBron would use his time at All-Star to sound out potential future team-mates. I think it is one of those situations where you see the flow of things [when the league's best players get together].
He might say in the locker room, 'Oh boy, LA has such great weather year round!'. He's from the mid-west. Another guy from the mid-west might pick up on those little [statements].
It will be hard, though, as you have so many guys locked into contracts. But it's not just right now. If you think about the Anthony Davis situation, he could possibly be [in Los Angeles] after 2020 when [where he plays] becomes his decision.
On return of regular season
I think the players will be so rested when they come back on Friday. This is the difference with [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver compared to [his predecessor] David Stern.
There used to be a time when, two days after the All-Star Game, guys were back it playing. Now you see [longer] breaks of time.
Adam actually listens to the players when they talk about how they can preserve their bodies so that they can be fresh and put on a great display of athleticism and talent for NBA fans.
Watch Bruce Bowen break down the NBA every Tuesday afternoon on Sky Sports News.
