From Snoop To Shaq, NBA All-Star Weekend In NYC Will Have It All

It's a cold time in New York City.

Alongside the frigid February weather making the morning commute to work that much worse, the city's two professional basketball teams have done little to impress this season, enlisting the help of D-League players and no-name talent to steer their respective sinking ships.

The gloom that's hovered over the Big Apple will soon vanish this weekend, albeit for a short time, as the NBA brings its All-Star weekend to Manhattan's Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Held between Friday and Sunday, All-Star weekend will reel in the league's best talent over three nights, ultimately culminating with the All-Star game on Sunday night.

As is the case every year, NBA All-Star game tickets on the secondary market won't be cheap. The average secondary price for the game is listed at $1,999.81 and its cheapest seat starts at $918.

If you can't pony up the money to get past the turnstile on Sunday, never fear; there's plenty to do in the city in the days leading up to the game.

Between P Diddy and Snoop Dogg's "The Tip-Off" concert at The Theater in MSG and Shaquille O'Neal's Comedy Jam at the Beacon Theatre, fans will be able to attend some of the biggest parties NYC has to offer this weekend.

The Tip-Off will be held on Thursday night. The HOT 97-sponsored event will also feature performances from surprise guests. Tip-Off tickets on TiqIQ average at $129.53, but fans can get in the door for $58.

The Tip-Off will host an official afterparty at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill following Diddy and Snoop's performances. The after party will be hosted by Funkmaster Flex and feature live performances from Busta Rhymes, OT Genasis and Manolo Rose.

Shaq's Comedy Jam will play three shows over two nights on Thursday and Friday at the Beacon. Standup performances from DeRay Davis, Bill Bellamy, Michael Blackson and Robert Powell, will provide plenty of laughs on the west side.

The average price for Comedy Jam tickets over its three shows is $274.70, with Thursday's show owning the cheapest ticket at $97. Two Friday shows at 7:30 and 10:30 pm will see get-in price start at $145 and $147, respectively.

Nicki Minaj will also have a notable presence in NYC this weekend. The "Anaconda" singer will play four shows in her native New York, beginning with the "Welcome to All-Star Concert After Party" on Thursday night at Stage 48.

On Friday, she'll host the NBA All-Star Weekend Party at the NYC Arena, which will feature Kevin Hart and several NBA and NFL superstars.

All-Star Weekend Takeover will see Nicki perform at the Copacabana on Saturday, alongside Meek Mill, before she wraps her weekend at the All-Star Weekend Finale Party at Pacha Nightclub.

The first annual Roc City Classic will be held on Thursday at Flatiron Plaza North and will feature Kanye West and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant.

The show starts at 8 pm and tickets are free, but the only way to get tickets is either through Roc Nation or Power 105.1 FM.

Of course, the All-Star game on Sunday will be preceded by All-Star Saturday Night at the Barclays Center, which will house the skills competition, three-Point and slam dunk contests.

Like the All-Star game, tickets will be expensive, with the average secondary price for All-Star Saturday Night tickets on TiqIQ going for $2,082.10 and get-in price starting at $511.

Teammates Steph Curry and Klay Thompson will battle in the three-point contest, while hometown favorite Mason Plumlee will take on fellow newcomers Victor Oladipo, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zach LaVine in the slam dunk Contest.

Whether city residents are watching the stars take the court between MSG and the Barclays or seeing some of music and comedy's hottest acts perform, the weekend will be filled to the brim with A-list parties and talent.

It's something that's been hard to come by for the Knicks and Nets this season.