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NBA All-Star weekend tips off with a cavalcade of events that include the brightest Hollywood stars and the greatest talents in basketball. Friday is certain to entertain, with both the NBA Celebrity Game and the Rising Stars showcase on full display.
Some of the most promising NBA players will play in a series of three games with a chance to win a spot in the main event on Sunday against Shaquille O’Neal’s team. This year marks a departure as the All-Star Game will be two semi-finals pitting the best in the league against each other. The winning teams will play in a third and final game.
The format now includes the winning Rising Stars squad from Friday, helmed by WNBA icon Candace Parker. Before that game tips off, it will be the celebs’ turn to take the court.
The likes of Shaboozey and comedian Kai Cenat will take the court alongside former players Baron Davis, Matt Barnes and more while coaches Barry Bonds and Jerry Rice lead the way in what is sure to be an enjoyable time.
Follow along for all of the action at Friday’s Celebrity Game and now-crucial Rising Stars showcase event.
When is the NBA All-Star celebrity game?
The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game takes place on Friday, Feb. 14 with the TV broadcast airing on ESPN.
All times Eastern.
NBA All-Star celebrity game TV channel: How to watch showcase
ESPN will have TV coverage from Oakland Arena. The event precedes the Rising Stars game that will tip off at 9 p.m. ET on TNT and TruTV.
NBA All-Star celebrity game stream: How to stream basketball event
NBA All-Star weekend welcomes a few events tipping off across networks that include ESPN and TNT, which you can stream on Sling.
Watch NBA All-Star weekend events with Sling
Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice knows a thing or two about greatness — He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion, after all. Now, he’s adding coaching to his resume. Rice will serve as the All-Star celebrity coach of Team Rice, alongside Grammy award-winning rapper 2 Chainz. The rapper, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, has some basketball experience. He played two seasons of collegiate basketball for the Alabama State Hornets.
Rice and Epps will face off against Team Bonds, led by former MLB heavyweight Barry Bonds, the league’s all-time career home runs leader (762). Bonds will be accompanied on the bench by influencer Khaby Lame, who has the most-followed account on TikTok (162M).
*Kai Cenat; popular streamer *Baron Davis; former NBA player and entrepreneur Rome Flynn; Emmy-winning actor Allisha Gray; two-time Atlanta Dream All-StarMickey Guyton; four-time Grammy-nominated country musicianTucker Halper of Sofi Tukker; two-time Grammy-nominated musicianNoah Kahan; two-time Grammy-nominated multi-platinumartist Danny Ramirez; star of Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: New World Order”Masai Russell; Olympic 100m gold medalist Pablo Schreiber; star of Paramount+’s “Halo” *Dylan Wang; Chinese actor and singer
*Asterisk represents a celebrity’s second All-Star game appearance
Matt Barnes; NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors Bayley; WWE Superstar Chris Brickley; top basketball skills trainerAP Dhillon; Indian singer, rapper and songwriter Druski; comedian and creator *Walker Hayes; singer-songwriter Shelby McEwen; Olympic high jump silver medalistTerrell Owens; Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Shaboozey; five-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriterOliver Stark; star of the drama series “9-1-1” Kayla Thornton; Golden State Valkyries forward
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Yves Missi will no longer participate in Friday’s Rising Stars mini-tournament after hyperextending his knee in the Pelicans’ 140-133 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, the day before the NBA All-Star break commenced. Although “an MRI taken last night showed no structural damage,” the Pelicans said Missi will opt to rest his knee ahead of being reevaluated next week.
Missi will be replaced by Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis on Team M, which is coached by Mitch Richmond. Buzelis is also a participant in Saturday’s dunk contest. The rookie averages 6.4 points in 14.8 minutes per game in 53 games this season. In his last eight games, he has scored in double figures each time and averaged 14.1 points.
The reimagined Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament follows the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game:
When: Friday, Feb. 14, 9 p.m. ETWhere: Chase Center Channel: TNT, TruTVStreaming: TNT Overtime, NBA App, NBA.com, Max, Sling
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