By Thomas Vo ’25
Last weekend, the annual All-Star events returned with both new and familiar faces. Some of the best players in the NBA played in Salt Lake City, Utah and put on a fantastic show. Many celebrities from around the globe that participated in multiple skill games contributed even more to the fun.
For the celebrity game, people were separated into two teams: “Team Ryan” and “Team Dwayne.” Team Ryan, with Ryan Smith as the captain, showed up with some well-known faces such as Guillermo Rodriguez (ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live correspondent), Calvin Johnson (former NFL player), Everett Osborne (actor), and more. On the other side, Team Dwayne Wade consisted of 21 Savage (rapper, recording artist), Janelle Monáe (actress, singer, songwriter), and many others. In the end, team Dwyane won with a 3 points lead. The MVP of the game was the NFL player DK Metcalf. Metcalf, the All-Pro receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Metcalf also contributed tons of dunks and was easily and quickly the crowd favorite. Unlike recent years, this year’s dunk contest was a success compared to previous competitions, with numerous beautiful dunks by Mac McClung. He put on a show by achieving three out of four perfect scores.
On Sunday night, the tip-off between “Team Giannis” and “Team LeBron” started with excitement in the air. Both teams performed miraculously with many great shots and dunks, as expected from the fans. Original teammates from both teams played competitively against each other, which made the All-Star Game even better. Ultimately, “Team Giannis” held the Championship Cup with a convincing win. Jason Tatum was deemed the ‘MVP’ after scoring fifty-five points and breaking personal records for points scored in an NBA All-Star Game.
Overall, the All-Star weekend was a tremendous success for the participants, and fans were satisfied with the performances. The Indiana Pacers will hold the next All-Star event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2024.
