The NBA All-Star weekend took place in Toronto, Canada. This marked the first time the league has held its annual showcase event outside the United States.
The celebrity game consisted of famous rapper Drake coaching the Canada team while comedian and four time Celebrity Game MVP, Kevin Hart, coached the USA team.
Kevin Hart was allegedly retired from playing but he saw the USA team struggling during the third quarter and made the dramatic decision to come out of retirement. He put his jersey on and was so ready to play. Entering the game, Drake stepped on the court and asked the referee if “this was legal”.
It was all fun and games until the USA lost 74 to 64. Drake questioned why Kevin won MVP if he had airballed a couple of three-pointers. Kevin blamed it on his age, heart, leg, and bad breathing.
Saturday night was day two of the All-Star Weekend. Taking home the trophy for the first event, the skills challenge, was Karl-Anthony Towns. The second event, Kevin Hart challenged Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green to a three-point shooting contest. As expected, it was supposed to go Draymond’s way but Kevin wasn’t playing no games. Kevin tied Draymond’s three-point score but was robbed.
The third event came down to two teammates facing off. Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in the three-point contest. It was no surprise, Klay Thompson took home the trophy for this event. Bringing us to the last event, the SLAM DUNK CONTEST!
Final round was down to Minnesota’s Zach LaVine and Orlando’s Aaron Gordon. This contest was said to be one of the greatest battles in the history of the NBA.
Zach LaVine took the trophy home for the second year in a row although some say he did not deserve it and Gordon should have won.
Sunday night concluded the All-Star weekend. It was West and East facing off in a game that ended with the West winning 196-173.
The biggest moment was Kobe Bryant making his 18th and final NBA All-Star appearance. He received the loudest cheers and center of attention throughout the weekend in Toronto.
Kobe said, ”I had a blast playing with those guys, laughing and joking with them on the bench”, realizing his career has come to an end.
