Sport

The British Basketball League’s All-Star Game is back and you can vote for who plays in it — including Manchester Giants stars

It's set to be a historic year for UK basketball as well.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th January 2024

The British Basketball League (BBL) has confirmed the return of its popular All-Star Game later this year and you can vote for who you want to take part in it, including our very own Manchester Giants.

Just like in the famous NBA format that inspired it, which is taking place for the 73rd time on 18 February, the UK’s equivalent is happening just a month later and will also see the first-ever All-Star Women’s Game in the exhibition’s 25-year on-and-off history.

The All-Star event as we know it today — which features a North vs South face-off between players from the male and female leagues, as well as a skills competition, three-point shootout and the famous Slam Dunk Contest — has been around for a decade now and is truly bigger than ever.

Scheduled for Sunday, 17 March 2024, voting for the British Basketball League All-Star Game is now open and fans can now vote for their favourite players and who they want to play each other this year. Naturally, we expect plenty of Manchester Giants to be on that list.

To vote, all you need to do is pick out five players from the North and five from the South on the combined rosters for both the men’s and women’s divisions. You can do so HERE.

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When it comes to the Giants players up for selection this year, they include the likes of SF Evan Walshe, young Canadian point guard Mason Bourcier who is making his debut campaign; the club’s all-time leading scorer Callum Jones and forward Jamell Anderson, just to name a few.

While the men’s team might be currently second from bottom, they have still had some star players flying the flag for Greater Manchester this year and, better still, the women’s side sits in a very competitive mid-table position with plenty of the season left to play.

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That being said, it’ll be nice to so how the top talents and firm fan favourites from our local side fair playing alongside the BBL’s very best players, and it goes without saying that the inaugural All-Star Women’s Game will be a historic occasion not only for British basketball but women’s sport in general.

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Voting is now open and you must make all of your selections (a centre, two forwards and two guards for each dream team) before the deadline at 7pm on 15 February.

You’ll also be pleased to know that there is no limit on picking players from the same time, so you could theoretically stack your two northern squads with nothing but Giants colours if you like. We often fall foul to that local bias in Fantasy Premier League but it’s all part of the fun at the end of the day.

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The British Basketball League’s 2023/24 All-Star Game takes place at the Copper Box Arena at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London from 12:30. You can grab your tickets HERE if you fancy travelling down but you best believe All Stars North are going home with the trophy.

And speaking of FPL, did you know we also brought back our own league this year? There’s still plenty of the season left to get involved and potentially win some prizes.

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Featured Images — Manchester Giants (via Instagram)