While the All-Star weekends for three of the four major professional North American sports leagues continue to struggle for ratings, the NBA celebrated another incredible weekend that produced a litany of memorable moments. From an improved rookie-sophomore game, to a more entertaining celebrity showdown (thanks to Kevin Hart) and an electric dunk contest, the whole weekend was worthwhile. Here are the five favorite things we saw:
Kevin Hart Gets Schooled By Mo’Ne Davis
Leave it to Kevin Hart to give everyone a laugh. Usually, one of the more forgettable events of the All-Star weekend is the bizarre celebrity basketball game but the entertainment value this year was quite fantastic thanks to the undersized comedian. He went head-to-head with Mo’Ne Davis, the Little League star. There’s nothing better than a grown man getting schooled by a pre-teen girl. And it’s even better with Hart and his signature trying-too-hard impressions. Turns out that he got the last laugh as he was named the game’s MVP.
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Wilkins Still Has Skills
Dominque Wilkins has been a staple of the NBA All-Star weekend in many different capacities over the years but he was back on the floor, stealing the spotlight this past weekend in the Shooting Stars event. Wilkins hit a half court shot to seal the win for his team that also consisted of Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh and Swin Cash of the New York Liberty.
James Harden Hooks Up With Amber Rose??
Amber Rose was in New York City for the 2015 All-Star Weekend and you know she was the apple of many eyes. The former stripper-turned-model has previously dated Kanye West and was married to Wiz Khalifa, but she hasn’t been linked to anyone since her divorce with Young Wizzle. However, Rose appeared on Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club on Friday and talked about how her Harden would be her Valentine. With her raunchy talk on the morning show, it sounded like Harden was in for a very happy ending to the All-Star weekend.
Kevin Durant Disses The Media
Westbrook wasn’t the only Thunder star to go off on NBA All-Star weekend, though, as Durant took aim at the media when they asked him about the continued speculation surrounding Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brook’s job security. “You guys don’t know s—.” was Durant’s response and he didn’t stop there. “To be honest, man, I’m only here talking to ya’ll because I have to. So I really don’t care. Y’all not my friends. You’re going to write what you want to write. You’re going to love us one day and hate us the next. That’s a part of it. So I just learn how to deal with y’all.” It was surprising to see him get peeved in a weekend which is supposed to be about fun and celebrations.
Maybe Marshawn Lynch has started a trend? The sudden surge in superstars dissing the media has become pretty noticeable with KD among the most surprising to sound off.
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A Legend Is Born
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaGBDmhoU4
The stakes for the 2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest were raised when Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Zach LaVine came out to the theme song from the move “Space Jam” and it was certainly a sign of things to come. LaVine donned a jersey from the movie before pulling out a series of spectacular jams that reached beyond winning the competition. It set his name in stone as one of the rising stars that fans won’t be able to look past over the next couple of years. The 19-year-old scored a perfect 50 on both of his first round dunks and none from the night were better than his incredible between the legs and behind his back reverse that was inspired by the movie Space Jam. It was a performance that won’t be forgotten any time soon and given both his age and rookie status, fans already can’t wait to see what’s in store for an encore in the coming years.
