Sophia Michaels
When it comes to the power rankings of NBA All-Star Weekend events, the Celebrity Game has always been fairly low on the totem pole. It’s the sort of thing that’s far more entertaining for the people involved than for anyone watching at home, but give props to the NBA for at least trying to inject some new life into this year.
The two rosters, coached respectively by ESPN stalwarts Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon, were the usual hodgepodge of musicians, actors, former NBA players, and social media influencers, and in a concerted and wonderfully misguided effort to juice up the entertainment value, they’ve introduced all sorts of randomness.
Just take a look at this completely baffling breakdown of the new in-game challenges.
……………….. pic.twitter.com/OHEoaQyP1D
— John Ledesma (@JohnnyNBA) February 15, 2020
In lieu of a standard tip-off to determine who gets possession to start the game, Famous Los and Chance the Rapper squared off in the tissue pull, which is exactly what it sounds like, in case there was any confusion.
A tissue pull for possession to start the game? The Celebrity Game is already off to a wild start 😂 pic.twitter.com/MeX10n1PIQ
— ESPN (@espn) February 15, 2020
Former NBA stars Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, now of “Knuckleheads” podcast fame, also featured prominently, with D-Miles mic’d up for our viewing pleasure. He did not disappoint, as he had to be reminded, not once, but twice that this is a family show.
Just keep Darius Miles mic’d up the rest of the game pic.twitter.com/2Ntqqspg8m
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 15, 2020
In the third quarter, each team was able to “Unlock a Legend” via Pop-a-Shot, which gave us former Bulls Horace Grant and Nate Robinson.
Horace Grant! pic.twitter.com/ItIJYWjzbo
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 15, 2020
Grant didn’t waste any time before getting on the board with an old-school bank shot.
Horace Grant banks it in pic.twitter.com/nq7lmVz4Sc
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 15, 2020
And, of course, Stephen A. Smith did what he was always meant to do and got T’d up.
Stephen A. got T’d up 😂
(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/VdPwCHwUkl
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 15, 2020
In the end, Team Wilbon got the victory and Chi-Town rapper Common took home MVP honors.
.@common is your 2020 All-Star Celebrity Game MVP 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Iuldk6zC0m
— ESPN (@espn) February 15, 2020
Better luck next year, Stephen A.
Written by: Uproxx
