The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is an annual exhibition basketball game held by the National Basketball Association that takes place annually during the NBA All-Star Weekend and features retired NBA players, WNBA players, actors, musicians, and athletes from sports other than basketball.
The game was first held during the 2003–04 season as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, California. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is played on Friday in the same host city as the NBA All-Star Game.[1][2] The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is played on Friday in the same host city as the NBA All-Star Game. However, the game is not held in the same arena as all the other All-Star Saturday events. Instead, it is held on the NBA Jam Session's practice court.
The game is played with the standard NBA rules however are several rule changes that are used in this game.[3]
- Games are played in four quarters of 8 minutes from 2004–11, the game was extended to 10 minutes a quarter in 2012.[4]
- The game clock does not stop while the play is not active except for timeouts, the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarters, or at the official's discretion. In 2013, the clock stops during the final two minutes of every quarter except for overtime.
- Overtime periods are two minutes in length with a running clock.
- There are no foul outs in the game, however players and/or coaches can be assessed technical fouls and can be ejected from the game.
- There was no Most Valuable Player in 2004. From 2005-10, the media members in attendance voted for the MVP. Since 2011, the fans and TV viewers now vote for the MVP through text messaging.[5]
- The game does not use the shot clock rule put into place during the 2011-12 season which the last five seconds of the shot clock were modified to include tenths of a second.
2004 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2004 McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 13, 2004 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.
The inaugural NBA All-Star Celebrity Game featured celebrities from Bill Bellamy, to Bill Walton.[6] Although Richard Jefferson of the Lakers led all scorers with 16 points and 31 minutes of playing time and Paris Hilton led the game for the Lakers with cellphone minutes on the bench,[7] their efforts was not enough for the Lakers to overcome the Braves 60-52.[8]
2005 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2005 McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game sponsored by Sprite was played on Friday, February 18, 2005 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.[9]
Rapper Nelly, pop rock singer Ryan Cabrera, rapper/actor Ice Cube, actor Danny Masterson, and actor Donald Faison joined WNBA players Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, Becky Hammon and Nykesha Sales.[10]
After playing the first half with Team Nuggets, Entertainment Tonight correspondent Kevin Frazier played the second half with Team Denver. R&B Singer Brian McKnight scored the game winning basket as he threw in an off-balance shot that sailed in while getting the foul call with 9.9 seconds in the fourth quarter, and he was named the MVP of the game.[11]
2006 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2006 McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 17, 2006 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.[12][13]
Despite Nelly, who was named MVP with a game-high 14 points and 12 rebounds, hit H-Town's only two three-pointers in a losing effort as the Clutch City Team beat the H-Town Team 37-33.
2007 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2007 McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Presented by 2K Sports was played on Friday, February 16, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Winchester, Nevada. Donald Faison started for the East but was traded to the West team in exchanged for no one during the second quarter. During the third quarter New Orleans Saints running back and West player Reggie Bush sightly sprained his right ankle and did not play the rest of the game, however Access Hollywood correspondent and fellow West teammate Tony Potts scored 14 points and eight rebounds for the West team as he helped the West beat the East 40-21 and was named the game's MVP. During the game, Jazz Bear, the mascot of the Utah Jazz,[14] ESPN reporter Jim Gray,[15] and former NBA player Jerome Williams played a few minutes in the game.[16][17]
2008 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 15, 2008 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. A total of 17 celebrities took part in the game. The game was marked by a surprise appearance by Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens in the middle of the second quarter, where he joined and played with the New Orleans team. Owens scored 18 points including a dunk. He also became the MVP of the game, after helping his team which was down by as much as 10 before he came but ended up winning, 51-50. ESPN analyst Ric Bucher was the commissioner for the game.[18]
2009 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2009 McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 13, 2009 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. A total of 17 celebrities took part in the game. Basketball Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Julius Erving, who combined for 23 NBA All-Star appearances, served as coaches for the celebrity teams. NBA legends, Dominique Wilkins and Clyde Drexler, were joined by former players, Dan Majerle and Rick Fox, in the celebrity team roster. WNBA stars Lisa Leslie and Kara Lawson also participated in the game along with four Harlem Globetrotters players.[19]
Previous year's MVP, Terrell Owens scored a game-high 17 points and led the East Sunrisers to a 60–57 victory over the West Sunsetters. Owens, an American football star for Dallas Cowboys, was also named as the Celebrity Game MVP for the second successive year. The game was marked by a surprise appearance by another Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman in the middle of the game, where she joined and played with the East Sunrisers. ESPN play-by-play commentator Mike Breen also made a surprise appearance as the referee for the game.[20]
2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Final Fantasy XIII was played on Friday, February 12, 2010 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. A total of 20 celebrities took part in the game, including several former basketball players. Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and five-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning, served as coaches for the celebrity teams. Three former NBA players, Robert Horry, Rick Fox and Chris Mullin, along with Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, participated in the game.[19] The West team won 41–37 over the East. "Special K" Daley, one of the four Harlem Globetrotters player that participated in the game, scored game-high 18 points for the West. Actor Michael Rapaport, who scored 4 points, was named as the Celebrity Game MVP for his defense on football player Terrell Owens, the MVP of the last two Celebrity Games. Owens, who played both college basketball and football in Chattanooga, led the East with 10 points.[19] The Globetrotters, joined by "Curly" Neal and "Bucket" Blakes, entertained the crowd during the timeouts with their signature ball-handling tricks.[21]
2011 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2011 BBVA Celebrity All-Star Game was played on Friday, February 18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. The head coaches were Basketball Hall of Famers Bill Walton and Magic Johnson. Their assistants were comedians Ty Burrell and Jason Alexander. Each team featured fake "general managers" who simulated to have chosen the team.
The game's MVP was chosen by voting of the audience through text messaging. At the end of the game, Justin Bieber was announced the MVP. Bieber scored eight points (3-11 FG), and had two rebounds and four assists. NBA legend Chris Mullin said of Bieber, "He's got a nice little game... but more importantly, he's got great passion. It looked like he loves the game."[22]
2012 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2012 Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Participants in 2012's version of the game include J.Cole, Common, Vinny Guadagnino, Kevin Hart, Ne-Yo, J.B. Smoove, Javier Colon, Drew and Jonathan Scott, Jesse Williams, Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, Penny Hardaway, Tim Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Tamika Catchings, Doug Gottlieb, and Arne Duncan.[23]
Arne Duncan scored 17 points, and grabbed eight rebounds for the East, but teammate and the game's MVP Kevin Hart who scored 8 points and six assists, was given two technical fouls and was ejected from the game with about a minute to go in the fourth quarter for protesting a call made against him. The East won the game 86-54. Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard coached for the East team and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant coached the West team.[24]
2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game [edit]
The 2013 Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 15, 2013 at the Sprint Arena in Houston, Texas.[25]
This year's game will feature 18 players including Jamaican Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, Entertainment Tonight correspondent Rocsi Diaz, actor Josh Hutcherson, ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo, and ABC News correspondent John Schriffen. Returning to play this year's edition are TV personality/actor Nick Cannon, rapper/actor Common, United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, E! News' co-anchor Terrence Jenkins, singer/actor Ne-Yo, singer/songwriter Trey Songz, and comedian/actor & the 2012's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Most Valuable Player Kevin Hart. The NBA legends joining the roster are former San Antonio Spurs players Bruce Bowen & Sean Elliott, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo, and Houston Cougars & Houston Rockets legend Clyde Drexler. And rounding out the roster are current WNBA players, from the Indiana Fever, forward Tamika Catchings and Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore. The head coach of the East Team is Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook and his assistant is rapper/actress Queen Latifah, and the head coach of the West Team is Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden and his assistant is TV host/actress Samantha Harris.[26]
Josh Hutcherson was the leading scorer of the East Team with 11 points which also includes three 3-pointers, Arne Duncan and Terrence Jenkins were the leading scorers of the West Team with 11 points, however teammate Kevin Hart who scored five points, three rebounds, and one assist was named Celebrity Game MVP for the second successive year. Hart became the second player to the win the Most Valuable Player award twice since Terrell Owens won it in 2008 and 2009.[27]
References [edit]
- ^ Corey Moss. "Paris, P. Diddy Help Make NBA All-Star Game An Afterthought". MTV.com. February 17, 2004. Retrieved on February 14, 2009.
- ^ "All-Star even tickets for sale Friday". azcentral.com. December 17, 2008. Retrieved on February 14, 2009.
- ^ Silveria, Guilherme. "2011 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game - Full Game - [Part 2/7]". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ^ ballmathes. "NBA.2012.All-Star.Celebrity.Game". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ^ ballmathes. "NBA.2012.All-Star.Celebrity.Game". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ^ Streets. "Most Stacked Year (Celeb-Wise) in NBA Celebrity All-Star History? - Operation Sports Forums". Operation Sports LLC. Operation Sports LLC. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ Lenchiner, Jeff. "2004 NBA Celebrity Game Recap". InsideHoops.com. InsideHoops Media Inc. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ "P. Diddy Dances to Victory". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ "Stars Hoop it up at the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Presented by Sprite". NBA.com. 2012 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ "NBA All-Star celebrity roster". ESPN. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ Bloom, Adam. "McKnight’s Big Night". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ "NBA All-Star Celebrity Game". Insidehoops.com. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ Friedman, Brad. "Getting Schooled". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ "2007.All-Star.Weekend.Celebrity.Game.Part1-3".
- ^ "2007.All-Star.Weekend.Celebrity.Game.Part1-5".
- ^ "2007.All-Star.Weekend.Celebrity.Game.Part1-4". Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ "West Celebs Defeat East in McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Presented by 2K Sports". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 17, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
- ^ Brennan, Matthew (February 17, 2008). "New Orleans Stars Win 2008 Celebrity Game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Wilkins, Drexler, Owens among Celebrity Game notables". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 11, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
- ^ Peterson, Rob (February 11, 2009). "T.O. pulls in another MVP trophy in wild celebrity game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
- ^ "Globetrotters Shine at NBA All-Star 2010". HarlemGlobetrotters.Com. Harlem Globetrotters. February 13, 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ^ Schuhmann, John (February 18, 2011). "MVP Bieber shows off his pro-style game in defeat". NBA/Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Howard, Durant go head-to-head coaching Celebrity Game". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Turner Sports Digital. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ^ Schuhmann, John (2012-02-25). "Harvard hoops, comedy highlight annual celebrity funfest". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
- ^ "NBA.com - NBA All-Star 2013: AS Events Landing Page". Turner Sports Digital. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ "Sprinter Bolt, Grammy winner Ne-Yo in Sprint Celebrity Game". Turner Sports Digital. NBA.com. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ NBAVideoClip. "East Vs West 2013 Celebrity All Star Game Highlights 15 February 2013". YouTube. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
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