By Jireh Antwi
The 2018 NBA All-star weekend did not disappoint fans. Los Angeles’s sunny weather never fails to elevate people’s moods and energy. The event is always a great opportunity for the players to engage with the NBA fanbase, unwind and show more of their personalities.
The Celebrity All-star game was the first installment of the weekend. It involved the likes of Justin Bieber, Jamie Foxx, one-third of the Migos – Quavo. The match also included former NBA players, Nate Robinson and Paul Pierce. For a celebrity All-star game, it was a good watch. Quavo received the MVP trophy for the game as he scored 19 points and secured 5 rebounds with 3 assists. His performance was somewhat surprising and proved to be great entertainment for fans.
The NBA Rising Stars Challenge game
The World NBA players vs the USA NBA players against each other, which proved to be another spectacle. It was a showcase of amazing dunks from the likes of Dennis Smith Jr, Donovan Mitchell and Boston Celtics’ Jalen brown, with the inclusion of All-star starter Joel Embiid for the world team. The game ended with Team World winning 155 –124. With Bogdan Bogdanovic scoring 26 points and hitting seven three-pointers, in a blowout victory.
Bogdan Bogdanovic wins the #KickstartRisingStars MVP!
26 PTS, 6 AST, 7 3PM ??????? pic.twitter.com/ueYtzsq4DG
— #NBAAllStar 2021 (@NBAAllStar) February 17, 2018
The Verizon Dunk contest
Donovan Mitchell won this one with a tribute to Vince Carter by doing a 360-windmill dunk wearing Carter’s former Toronto Rapture Jersey. Larry Nance Jr. was this runner’s up. Nance Jr. is the son of Larry Nance, the winner of the inaugural dunk contest in 1984.
Donovan Mitchell pays homage to Half Man, Half Amazing to take home the #VerizonDunk Contest trophy!#PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/o1zrdHhuT7
— #NBAAllStar 2021 (@NBAAllStar) February 18, 2018
All-star game
The main event of the weekend was the showdown between Team Lebron and Team Steph. It was a game which lived up to its expectations. It was thoroughly competitive match-up, with both teams scoring over 100 points. Once again, the notorious Lebron James proved why he is an all-time great. He received the MVP award for scoring 29pts, gaining 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Despite this dominating performance, the game still provided some drama. In the final seconds, Stepehen Curry had an oppurtunity to tie the game. All were expecting the Golden State man to drain the three. However, Kevin Durant and Lebron James heavily guarded and denied him the chance to take it to overtime.
The winner of the 2018 #NBAAllStar game MVP… LeBron James! #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/Rky5zvnYds
— #NBAAllStar 2021 (@NBAAllStar) February 19, 2018
One of the most memorable moments of the whole weekend was Fergie singing the national anthem. The players and celebrities in attendance reactions towards the performance, said it all.
How everybody was watching fergie sing the national anthem ?#NBAAllStar2018 pic.twitter.com/18cI9Uy096
— Landon Moss (@_LandonMoss) February 19, 2018
Overall the step up from last year’s All-Star games was very noticeable. With the NBA being a progressive league and having active player involvement it will only get better.
