NBA All-Star Weekend: 5 Reasons to Watch, From Kobe to ‘Creed’
This year’s event has everything from the return of a broadcasting legend to the final chapter of an NBA superstar
Brian Flood | February 11, 2016 @ 11:22 AM
Last Updated: February 11, 2016 @ 11:31 AM
NBA All-Star Weekend will feature a farewell to Kobe Bryant, the return of a broadcaster who battled leukemia, and even the star of “Creed” showing off his court skills.
The weekend is packed with events leading up to Sunday’s game, and the host city is Toronto — making this the first All-Star Weekend held outside the United States in the 65-year history of the event.
So what should you care about? Here are our Top 5 reasons to watch:
Like it or not, expect a ton of Hotline Bling: Drake will be everywhere this weekend.
The Toronto native isn’t just a celebrity NBA fan. He is also the Raptors’ global ambassador. He even joined then-Mayor Rob Ford on stage for a news conference when Toronto was named the host city back in 2013.
“We’re committed to making sure that he puts as much of a footprint on the All-Star Week as the NBA will allow us to,” Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Tim Leiweke told the Toronto Sun.
Wait, that’s “Creed” star Michael B. Jordan, not the retired NBA legend.
The NBA’s “All-Star Celebrity Game” is Friday at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET live on ESPN. This year’s version is USA vs. Canada, with four-time NBA “Celebrity Game” MVP Kevin Hart coaching Team USA. The coach of Team Canada? That would be Drake. Obviously.
In addition to Jordan, Hart’s USA team will include Jason Sudeikis, “Blackish” star Anthony Anderson, “Empire” star Bryshere “Yazz” Gray and Nick Cannon. Canada’s squad will feature “Race” star Stephan James, Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, HGTV’s “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott, among others.
The Slam Dunk contest used to be the marquee event of All-Star Saturday night. These days, the league’s most popular is the “Foot Locker Three-Point Contest,” because watching Stephen Curry shoot is just as much fun as watching Michael Jordan dunk was back in the day.
Curry is the reigning NBA MVP, has the highest-selling jersey, and won the NBA championship last season. His Warriors are dominating with a 48-4 record. It’s safe to say he’s the league’s biggest star. He might even be the best shooter ever.
James Harden, Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, Kyle Lowry, J.J. Redick, Chris Bosh and Devin Booker join Curry in the contest.
2. Craig Sager will be there
Turner Sports NBA reporter and fashion icon Craig Sager was diagnosed with leukemia in April 2014. Less than a year ago, he underwent a clinical trial that resulted in him undergoing chemotherapy 24 hours a day for two straight weeks. After missing last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend, Sager feels good enough to return and work the event this year.
“Certainly, it’s something I missed terribly a year ago. I’ve done every one since 1988,” Sager told Awful Announcing.
1. Kobe Bryant’s final All-Star game
Bryant ‘s 18th All-Star Game will be his final one, as he is hanging up his Nikes after the season. Bryant led all players with 1.89 million votes, proving that NBA fans want to witness the event’s all-time leading scorer one last time. He’s been named the All-Star MVP four times, and don’t be shocked if sentimental teammates look for every opportunity to make it five. It’s going to be weird without him next season.
The 2016 NBA All-Star Game is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. PT/ 8:30 ET on TNT.
34 Super Bowl 50 Ads: Watch This Year's Buzziest Commercials (Video)
Audi compares its cars to space shuttles in its 60-second ad set to late rock legend David Bowie's "Starman."
Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen unite the country with Bud Light in a patriotic commercial for the beer brand.
Athletes breathe heavily and drink Michelob Ultra in the spot for the low-calorie, low-carb beer.
Mountain Dew's Super Bowl ad features a puppymonkeybaby, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Willem Dafoe does his best Marilyn Monroe impression in Snickers' latest installment in the "You're Not You" ad campaign.
Automotive floor mat company WeatherTech boasts American manufacturing in its 30-second spot.
Apartments.com's 60-second spot stars Jeff Goldblum, Lil Wayne and George Washington.
PayPal is kicking of a "New Money" ad campaign with a Super Bowl ad set to an instrumental version of Demi Lovato's "Confident."
Drake spoofs his viral "Hotline Bling" music video in T-Mobile's 30-second spot.
Acura's 30-second ad uses Van Halen's "Runnin' With the Devil" and red, white and blue lights to promote its new Acura NSX.
A herd of sheep sings Queen's "Somebody to Love" in Honda's woolly advertisement titled “A New Truck of Love,” which ends with the farmer’s trusty sheep dog joining in at the end.
Just one of many ads to employ a famous face, Hyundai's commercial features a world where all men look like Ryan Reynolds. Sounds like heaven.
Kias are like colorful socks, or so says Christopher Walken in the automaker's 60-second spot, as the actor takes over from the famous dancing hamsters.
Serena Williams, Abby Wambach, T-Pain, Randy Johnson, Tony Hawk and Harvey Keitel star in the Mini USA ad, which promises to "Defy Labels."
Avocados From Mexico sends emoji, The Dress and Scott Baio to space in their surreal 60-second ad.
Helen Mirren says a bunch of terrible things about drunk drivers for Budweiser in one of the beer company's commercials, calling them a “short-sighted, utterly useless, oxygen wasting, human form of pollution.”
"Silicon Valley's" T.J. Miller shares some "unfiltered talk" with the Shock Top mascot in the brand's first ever Super Bowl ad.
Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" campaign will pick one homemade ad to air during Sunday's game, with the winner getting $1 million and the chance to work with "Dawn of Justice" director Zack Snyder.
An adorable stampede of weiner dogs runs through a field in this year's Heinz ad, which may win the prize for cutest commercial of 2016.
Skittles tapped Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for its 30-second Super Bowl spot.
NBA player James Harden will star in Taco Bell's ad promoting a secret new product.
Pokemon encourages viewers to "train on" in a new ad celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Finance and tax software company Intuit once again handed over its Super Bowl slot to a small business. This year, it was Death Wish Coffee.
"Quantum of Solace" director Marc Forster directed the 30-second ad for financial services company SoFi.
Alec Baldwin will star in Amazon's first Super Bowl ad this year alongside former Miami Dolphin QB Dan Marino and Missy Elliot.
Ridley Scott, the director behind Apple's iconic "1984" commercial returns to the Super Bowl to produce LG's ad starring Liam Neeson.
James Lipton stars in a 60-second teaser for TurboTax's upcoming Super Bowl commercial.
Comedy duo Keegan-Michael Kelly and Jordan Peele star in the spot for Squarespace this year. They will also provide live commentary during the game for the company.
The NFL will run a 60-second ad in which Super Bowl babies — children born in winning cities nine months after the Super Bowl — sing a comical cover of Seals "Kiss From a Rose."
SunTrust Banks takes an optimistic approach in its 2016 ad.
Quicken Loans boasts that its new Rocket Mortgage app can save the economy in its 60-second spot.
The characters from "Kung Fu Panda 3" star in a cuddly 30-second spot for Wix this year.
Colgate's "Save Water" ad encourages viewers to turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth.
Axe will air a 30-second version of its successful "Find Your Magic" ad during this year's game.
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From T-Mobile’s “Hotline Bling” parody featuring Drake to Ryan Reynolds distracting drivers in his Hyundai, see the best ads ahead of this year’s big game
Audi compares its cars to space shuttles in its 60-second ad set to late rock legend David Bowie's "Starman."
