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02.21.18

NBA All-Star Game Is Boston Strong Thanks to Paul Pierce, Kyrie Irving & Mark Wahlberg!

Posted by: Gronkowski

The NBA All-Star was Boston Strong last weekend as past, present and future Celtics players headed west to Los Angeles to celebrate the best the NBA has to offer.

And who better than the great Paul Pierce to represent the Celtics? Having just had his number retired at the TD Garden the week before, No. 34 turned Hollywood making his presence felt at a string of glitzy events.

On Friday night, he even took to the court for the All-Star Celebrity Game hosted by ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth.

Pierce was an assistant coach and player on Katie Nolan’s team, and the Bostonian was star struck to say the least.

“I feel I don’t ever want to let him come off the floor. I don’t know how I am going to be able to give him a break. I know that’s not the point, I know we’re meant to see celebrities having fun, but I came to win,” she said before the game.

The teams were picked randomly and neither rival coach Rachel Nichols or Nolan knew who they were going to get. Needless to say, Katie was happy with her lot!

“I was so excited, I have met him once and I was 12 – I was dancing at a Celtics game after winning a contest and I remember him being the tallest human I have ever seen in my life,” she recalled. “He shook my hand and that was it, and I haven’t seen him since. I am excited to meet him as adult and have him treat me immediately as equal on a basketball court.”

Nolan proved she had the basketball chops to hang with the big boys, and her Team Clippers beat the Team Lakers 75-66.

While some of the celebrities like Bubba Watson were clearly goofing around, Pierce and Tracy McGrady seemed to take the game very seriously – proving that once a competitor, always a competitor. Although at one point Pierce did just steal the mic and ask if he could trade Jamie Foxx for Candace Parker …

Migos rapper Quavo ended up getting the MVP, and everyone had a blast.

When it came to players who currently wear Celtics jerseys to work, Kyrie Irving was reunited with LeBron James – playing together for the first time since he was traded from the Cavaliers last summer (thanks, LeBron!)

After beating Team Stephen 148-145, James told the reporters in the post-game press conference that it was “phenomenal” to be back on the same side as Kyrie.

“Anytime you're able to get back and play with one of your old teammates, and as great as he is, we all know that. The flashiness, the ball handling, the ability to shoot, it was just great to get back on the floor with him.”

And if you were wondering in what order LeBron picked his winning team in that “secret” draft, it was: Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and then DeMarcus Cousins.

As for the new format of the Team Stephen vs. Team LeBron format, Kyrie agreed with the fans that it was a huge success. “This was pretty fun. I think that we showcased that tonight with an incredible competitive spirit. The game was kind of getting away, but I think a few of us took it a little personal that we wanted to keep the game still competitive and at a high level,” he told the crowded media room at Staples Center. 

“I think that having the captains and selecting the guys and being able to mix them up gave it a more authentic feel of kind of what us players want to be part of in an All-Star Game,” he continued. “It's great to play with guys in your conference, East vs. West. But when you get a chance to have Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and you know they're teammates already, and then you mix them with myself, and Kemba, and LeBron, and you could see the mix and it just worked.”

 

C’s Jaylen Brown was he man to watch in Friday’s All-Star contest -- the NBA’s showcase of its top first- and second-year players – as he joined teammate Jayson Tatum on Team USA.

No player was more impressive during the game than Boston’s young and talented wing, according to NBA.com. Brown led the game with 35 points --15 more than any of his teammates and six more than the game’s second-highest total -- and made 14 of his 21 shot attempts. We can’t wait to see what magic he pulls out for the rest of the Celtics season!

Before playing in the All-Star game Sunday, Celtics Forward-Center competed in the Skills Contest but was sadly knocked out in the first round by Joel Embiid.

Next up, Boston’s own Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg judging the Dunk Contest alongside DJ Khaled, Chris Rock and Hall of Famers Julius Erving and Lisa Leslie. Knowing when to kiss up to his colleagues, Marky Mark told the crowd that Dr J. was the top dunker ever in his opinion.

Utah jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell set a high bar from the outset with a stunning windmill dunk that blew the roof off Staples Center.

Victor Oladipo then got a “Black Panther” mask from none other than Chadwick Boseman before showing off something Marvel-worthy magic with a spin around two-hand slam. But what we want to know is, does he get to keep the mask?

But it wasn’t enough to hold off the mighty Mitchell, who pulled out Kevin Hart and his son, his sister and even a fan from the crowd to give him a hand for an epic jump-off-their backs dunk. The team effort was worth it and earned him a perfect score – and the title of 2018 Dunk Contest winner.

While the NBA All-Star doesn’t make up for the lack of football at this time of year, it does ease the blow slightly.

And now we’re on to the Winter Olympics … is it September yet?

 

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