NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Highlights
Inglewood, California — The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game took place on Friday night, featuring a thrilling contest that saw Rome Flynn retain his title as the event’s Most Valuable Player. Flynn dominated the court for Team Giannis, scoring 17 points and leading his team to a 65-58 victory over Team Anthony, which was coached by comedian Anthony Anderson.
Historic Venue Revival
The celebrity game revived basketball at the Forum, a historic venue that was once the heart of the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” era before their move in 1999 to downtown Los Angeles. Now, under new sponsorship and ownership by Steve Ballmer, the arena primarily serves as a space for concerts and entertainment.
Event Highlights
For the first time, the event included a K-pop performance, with boy band CORTIS entertaining the crowd during halftime. The game’s excitement began with a tip-off between Team Giannis’s Jenna Bandy and Adrien Nunez from Team Anthony, resulting in Nunez eventually missing his initial free throw after being fouled.
Notably, Bandy was the sole woman in either team’s starting lineup, and her team benefitted from the rebounding prowess of Tacko Fall, the towering 7-foot-6 former NBA player who scored 20 points. His powerful dunk late in the third quarter brought Team Anthony to within a single point.
The event also captured the cheers of the audience through the stellar play of Chinese performer Dylan Wang, who ignited excitement with consecutive baskets for Team Giannis in the opening quarter.
Notable Participants
On the older side of the participant spectrum were Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Charlotte Hornets stakeholder Rick Schnall, aged 46 and in his 50s, respectively. The two had a brief encounter when Schnall fouled Ishbia, who converted his free throw, reminiscent of his days on the basketball court at Michigan State.
Also making an impact was Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, who hit a remarkable four-point shot from beyond the arc, keying a strong second-quarter showing that saw him rack up a total of 18 points. Moreover, team mascots from the Hornets and Mavericks saw some action as designated sixth men during the game’s latter stages.
Coaching and Support
Although he was unable to play due to a calf injury sustained earlier in the season, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo served as a coach for Team Giannis. His brothers Thanasis and Alex joined him on the sideline, supported by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who inspired the players with a motivating halftime speech, as praised by former NBA player Jeremy Lin.
Looking Ahead
This event kicked off the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, which will continue with the Rising Stars game at the nearby Intuit Dome.
