2012 NBA All-Star Game Preview: Steve Nash, Markieff Morris Set For All-Star Weekend

The 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us once more, and the league has an exciting schedule of events planned for the upcoming weekend:

Friday, February 24

4 p.m. - Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN): Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant will serve as coaches for the celebrity game.

6 p.m. - BBVA NBA Rising Stars Challenge (TNT): Shaquille O`Neal and Charles Barkley picked teams from a group of first and second-year players. The Phoenix Suns's Markieff Morris will be taking part in this event.

Saturday, February 25

Coverage begins on TNT at 5:30 p.m. PST. Here is the order of events:

Haier Shooting Stars: The annual shooting competition features a three-member team of one current NBA player, one former NBA star, and a WNBA player. Los Angeles doesn't have a team, but host Team Orlando includes Jameer Nelson, Dennis Scott, and Marie Ferdinand-Harris.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge: Stephen Curry last year won the event, which is geared toward point guards, but a right foot injury will keep him out of this year's proceedings. Kyrie Irving,Tony Parker, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, and Deron Williams are all scheduled to complete.

Foot Locker Three-Point Contest: Former UCLA Bruin Kevin Love will compete in this event, competing against defending champion James Jones as well as Ryan Anderson, Anthony Morrow, Mario Chalmers, and Kevin Durant.

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest: Griffin will not defend his title in a rather uninspiring field of four dunkers, former Arizona Wildcats Chase Budinger and Derrick Williams., Paul George, and Jeremy Evans.

Sunday, February 26

NBA All-Star Game: Coverage starts at 3 p.m. PST on TNT, but the game begins at 4:30. The Western Conference has four starters from Los Angeles, with Steve Nash representing the Suns.

For more on the Suns, head over to Bright Side of the Sun.