Overall, the NBA All-Star Weekend was a success. With this being the 75th Anniversary the entire weekend was spent highlighting the history of the game. The naming of the top 75 players to play the game was a defining moment and honour to all those selected. On Friday there was the celebrity game which included the likes of Quavo, Machine Gun Kelly, Jack Harlow and Tiffany Haddish to name a few. The top Rookies and Sophomores showcased their skills in the Rising Stars Challenge. Saturday was the Skills Challenge. Obi Toppin of the NY Knicks won a lacklustre Slam Dunk Competition. It was probably one of the worst on record. Personally, I literally fell asleep how terrible the show was. If the Vince Carter Slam Dunk Competition was a 10/10, then this one was a minus 1. The 3-point competition was won by the only big man in the lineup, Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He surprised the other participants by posting 29 points in the finals to become the only Center to ever win this challenge. In the final event on Saturday Evan Mobley hit a half-court shot with 5.5 seconds remaining to take Team Cavs to victory over Team Rookies and Team Antetokounmpo.
Luckily, the actual Main Event, the All-Star Game itself was one for the ages on Sunday to wrap up the weekend. The structure of the game had a winner for each of the first 3 quarters and one for the winner of the game. This made it very competitive. Team Lebron emerged victorious defeating Team Durant 163-160. In dramatic fashion LeBron James hit a fadeaway jumper reminiscing of his idol Michael Jordan in his hometown of Cleveland where he was drafted and won a Championship in 2016. At halftime he had a moment with Michael Jordan at the end of the 75th Anniversary ceremonies. The two players who in many fans’ eyes are 1A and 1B in the GOAT conversation for Greatest Basketball player of All-Time. To hit the game winner in that way, in this game, on a night like this… You couldn’t have drawn up a better script! With the win Team Lebron won $450000 for the Kent State (Promise Scholars Program) and Team Durant collected $300000 for the Cleveland Food Bank.
However, Stephan Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the greatest of the greats on this night. He was like a magician hitting crazy 3-point shots all over the court. Some from the logo, some from close to half court and about two or three where he did his (patent 180-degree spin), looking in the complete other direction before the ball even dropped into the net. He put on a show for the hundreds of millions of fans who tuned in across the globe to watch the current best of the best perform, in front of the living members of the 75 greatest players ever. With Kevin Durant, James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Chris Paul injured the other 3 active players on the list were top performers in the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, Lebron hit the game winner and Stephan Curry scored 50 points going 16/27 from beyond the arc to win MVP honours.
It was only fitting that the past NBA Champion & MVP, plus the two Superstars who have been the most influence Basketball Players in the past two decades, put their stamp on this game, the All-Star weekend, in this 75th Anniversary Season.
It was definitely a night to remember and one for the history books!
