While the Bulls have minimal presence at NBA All-Star Weekend, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will represent Chicago in Friday night’s Celebrity 3-Point Contest.
The Chicago Bulls will have very little representation during the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
Matas Buzelis is on the roster for one of four teams competing in the Rising Stars tournament on Friday. Somehow, Mac McClung also found his way onto one of those rosters, although he won’t participate due to injury.
But when it comes to the marquee events — the State Farm Three-Point Contest, the Kia Skills Challenge, the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, and the 75th NBA All-Star Game — Chicago came up empty.
As a matter of fact, the most notable Chicago sports representation during NBA All-Star Weekend comes from Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
Williams will take part in the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity 3-Point Contest on Friday.
The field also includes former NBA player and current analyst Richard Jefferson; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (for some reason); comedian and influencer Druski; and Jake from State Farm.
Considering he’s going up against an actual NBA guard who was a Rookie of the Year contender last season, I wouldn’t put money on Caleb walking away with a victory.
The fact that he was on Instagram admitting he’s “not a hooper” and just planning to “go have some fun” is also a fairly strong indication he won’t be the favorite.
Reports from inside the Bears’ locker room say Williams frequently takes his shots on the mini hoop located inside Halas Hall, competing against teammates. Though I’m not sure how much that experience will translate here.
But then again, who better to pull off a surprise than Caleb Williams? I kid. … Kind of.
In all seriousness, Williams’ involvement in an event like this should be widely celebrated in Chicago.
The fact that he’s viewed as a big enough star to receive an invitation alongside former NBA champions, prominent influencers, and nationally recognized celebrities is further proof of what we already know: the Chicago Bears have a star at quarterback.
And not just one who shines on Sundays, but one with the potential to become a prominent sports figure nationally as his career develops.
That’s not something I would have thought possible just a handful of years ago.
I rarely tune into the festivities of NBA All-Star Weekend. But on Friday night, I’ll be watching specifically for Williams — and I'll look forward to seeing how well he represents Chicago. It'll be more engaging for the fans than anything the Bulls have going on right now.