MILWAUKEE -- Barring a last minute change, the Milwaukee Bucks won't have a player in the NBA's All-Star Game for the 11th consecutive season.
But that doesn't mean the organization won't be represented during All-Star Weekend in New York. Giannis Antetokounmpo will participate in the Rising Stars Challenge and Slam Dunk Contest, while Brandon Knight is in the Skills Challenge.
The Rising Stars Challenge and All-Star Saturday night will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, while Sunday's All-Star Game is at Madison Square Garden.
"For what we are doing, to be a part of the national stage for anything is good for us," Bucks general manager John Hammond said. It is great for us as an organization, great for our team and great for the players individually."
Antetokounmpo is in the Rising Stars Challenge (Friday, 8 p.m. CT on TNT) for the second consecutive season, joining Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings as the only Bucks players to appear in the game twice.
But the main event for the 20-year-old is the Slam Dunk Contest, which is part of All-Star Saturday night.
"I'm happy for all of this," Antetokounmpo said. "It was my dream to participate (in the dunk contest). When I was young, I was watching it on TV. I always wanted to go through that experience.
"What can I say, I never imagined I would be in my second year and already invited to the (Rising Stars Challenge), Slam Dunk Contest and the Skills Challenge."
What does Antetokounmpo have planned to wow the crowd?
"I've been thinking about it," Antetokounmpo said. "I have three or four dunks that I can do. I'll choose. I have to do at least two.
"I want to surprise you guys. I've been thinking about a lot of things. One of them will involve my brother (Thanasis). Another one might involve Greece."
Antetokounmpo's competition in the Slam Dunk Contest includes Minnesota's Zach LaVine, Orlando's Victor Oladipo and Brooklyn's Mason Plumlee.
After last year's failed experiment in making the Slam Dunk Contest a team event, players will have a maximum of three attempts, with no time limit, to complete each of their two first-round dunks. Five judges will score each dunk on a scale of 6 to 10, advancing the two dunkers with the highest combined score to the final round.
"He won't tell us, man," said Bucks center John Henson of Antetokounmpo's plans. "He won't give anything away. I'm scared to have a watch party at my house. If he doesn't come hard, everybody will look at me crazy. I think he will be fine. To have guys with Bucks on their chest out there is good."
Antetokounmpo said he has never tried to take off from the free-throw line on a dunk but didn't rule out the possibility of trying the dunk made iconic by Julius Erving and Michael Jordan. The 20-year-old has been studying film of former All-Star forward Larry Nance, who won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1984.
"(Bucks assistant) coach (Greg) Foster told me that we have similar bodies and both are really athletic," Antetokounmpo said. "So I studied him. His dunks were amazing."
Knight was hoping to have been selected to the All-Star Game as the injury replacement for Heat guard Dwyane Wade, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver picked Hawks guard Kyle Korver instead.
Wade told reporters in Miami he thought Knight should replace him, saying, "He's done a great job of leading that team that a lot of people didn't give a chance to being a very good team that's respected."
"I appreciate D-Wade saying that," Knight said. "Too bad the commissioner didn't feel the same way. I'm thankful for those guys recognizing. That means a lot. It is continued motivation.
"I'm just going to work hard as an individual to continue to push our team and lead our team. If it weren't for winning, I wouldn't even be in this position. It is all about team. For myself, I'm continue to be the guy that I've been and continue to improve to make it so that they are forced to put me in either this year or next year."
Bulls guard Jimmy Butler and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony are currently battling injuries, which could lead to Knight still making the Eastern Conference All-Star team as an injury replacement.
Knight will be ready to jump into the All-Star Game at a moment's notice because he will be in New York for the Skills Challenge.
"I'm looking forward to representing the Bucks," Knight said. "I've been there before. The biggest thing for me is to just represent the Bucks in a big way."
A 10-time All-Star himself, Bucks coach Jason Kidd is hoping Antetokounmpo and Knight soak in the atmosphere that comes with All-Star Weekend.
Because of the extended break, Kidd said he is sending at least one coach to New York to make sure both players do what they need to do to be ready physically when the Bucks return to practice on Feb. 19.
"Enjoy the moment," Kidd said. "All-Star Weekend is great. There's no better place to participate in the All-Star festivities than New York. Enjoy the moment, support your teammate, and then find a way to get rest, but also lift and do the proper things to get ready for the rest of the season."
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter
