2019 NBA All-Star: Celebrity Game and Rising Star Challenge Open Thread

The 2019 NBA All-Star Friday night festivities are here. So here’s your open thread to discuss them.

The NBA Celebrity Game

When: Friday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Bojangles’ Coliseum

TV: ESPN

This is a game where actors, singers and WNBA players will play basketball on the floor.

Home Team

This is a team made up of people from North and South Carolina or have ties to the area, like when they were in college. South Carolina women’s basketball team head coach Dawn Staley will coach the team.

• Mike Colter, actor
• Chris Daughtry, singer
• Terrence J, actor
• Famous Los, comedian
• Dr. Oz, TV show host
• Rapsody, rapper, recording artist
• Bo Rinehart, singer from NEEDTOBREATHE
• JB Smoove, actor
• Steve Smith, retired NBA player
• A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces sophomore
• Jay Williams, ESPN college basketball analyst
• Jason Weinmann, retired Marine known for helping Tropical Storm Florence victims

Road Team

This is a team of made up mostly of those not from North or South Carolina. Seattle Storm guard and Denver Nuggets basketball operations associate Sue Bird will coach the team.

• Ronnie 2K, Director of Influencer Marketing at 2K Sports
• Ray Allen, retired NBA player
• AJ Buckley, actor)
• Bad Bunny, rapper
• Stefanie Dolson, Chicago Sky (and former Washington Mystics) center
• Marc Lasry, co-owner, Milwaukee Bucks
• Hasan Minhaj, actor,
• Quavo, rapper
• Adam Ray, comedian
• Amanda Seales, actor,
• James Shaw Jr., a Tennessee-based electrician who disarmed a shooter in a restaurant
• Brad Williams, comedian

This game will be very interesting from the fact that the head coaches are both women. One of them coaches one of the top teams in the country. The other is coming off her third WNBA championship.

If I have to root for a team to win this one, it’s the road team. You should too because Stef Dolson is just that much cooler than all of us! Still remember this from back in the day.

Rising Star Challenge

This is a game between the best rookies and sophomores in a Team USA vs. Team World format.

When: Friday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Spectrum Center

TV: TNT

Team U.S.

• Jarrett Allen
• Marvin Bagley III
• Lonzo Ball (injured)
• John Collins
• De’Aaron Fox
• Jaren Jackson Jr.
• Kevin Knox
• Kyle Kuzma
• Donovan Mitchell
• Jayson Tatum

Team World

• OG Anunoby
• Deandre Ayton
• Bogdan Bogdanović
• Luka Dončić
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Rodions Kurucs
• Lauri Markkanen
• Josh Okogie
• Cedi Osman
• Ben Simmons

I think Team World may have the edge in this one. Just disappointed that we won’t see Thomas Bryant there.

Enjoy the games everyone.