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I think maybe it's time we quit circling around the discussion of arenas, leases, FEISes, governments, etc, and just watch some basketball.
Sprint Celebrity Game
NBA All-Star weekend kicks off tonight and the first event is the Sprint Celebrity Game. Actor Kevin Hart looks for his fourth consecutive MVP title, despite never scoring more than eight points in a game. Many fans on social media are already ready to crown him again, despite the game not having even been played yet. Hooray for fan voting.
Carmelo Anthony and Spike Lee will coach one team, while ESPN's Mike & Mike will coach the other. Isaiah Austin will be an assistant. Tip-off is at 4:00 pm Pacific time on ESPN.
| COACHES |
| Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks (HC) |
| Spike Lee, director (HC) |
| Mike Golic, ESPN Radio host (HC) |
| Mike Greenberg, ESPN Radio host (HC) |
| Isaiah Austin, NBA Cares Ambassador (AC) |
| PARTICIPANTS |
| Kevin Hart, actor |
| Ansel Elgort, actor |
| Mo'ne Davis, Little League star |
| Win Butler, singer, Arcade Fire |
| Anthony Anderson, actor |
| Common, rapper/actor |
| Chadwick Boseman, actor |
| Nick Cannon, actor |
| Allan Houston, retired NBA star |
| Chris Mullin, retired NBA star |
| Blake Leeper, paralympic athlete |
| Michael Rappaport, actor |
| Robert Pera, owner, Memphis Grizzlies |
| Abhishek Bachchan, Bollywood actor |
| Shoni Schimmel, Atlanta Dream |
| Skylar Diggins, Tulsa Shock |
| Tina Charles, New York Liberty |
| Kristin Ledlow, host, NBA Inside Stuff |
| Sarah Silverman, actress/comedian |
| Jesse Williams, actor |
BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge
The Rising Stars Challenge has a new format this year, and it's a pretty exciting one if you ask me. What started out as the Rookie game, then became the Rookie/Sophomore game, then became the Rising Stars Challenge with captains such as Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith picking teams, has now blossomed into a USA vs the World match-up. Team USA features Renton native Zach LaVine. Tip-off is at 6:00 pm Pacific time on TNT.
| USA | vs. | WORLD |
| ROSTERS | ||
| Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves | G | Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks |
| Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic | G | Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets | F | Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz |
| Cody Zeller, Charlotte Hornets | F | Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks |
| Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers | F | Kostas Papanikolaou, Houston Rockets |
| Trey Burke, Utah Jazz | G | Bojan Bogdanovic, Brooklyn Nets |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit Pistons | G | Dante Exum, Utah Jazz |
| Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers | F | Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls |
| Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic | G | Matthew Dellavedova, Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Shabazz Muhammad, Minnesota Timberwolves | F | Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves |