Asha Wilhight
MC301 Contributor
The NBA has once again wrapped up another spectacular and entertaining 2014 All Star Weekend. From Feb. 13 – 16, the star studded weekend kicked off with the Celebrity Basketball game, followed the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, featuring the newly revamped Dunk Contest, and the 63rd annual All-Star game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. It was televised live on TNT, NBA TV, and ESPN and streamed on NBA.com.
The Eastern conference earned a victory over the Western conference with a score of 163 to155. In a game that was lacking in defense, Kevin Durant of the West outshined Lebron James in the highlighted match up with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 of 17 three pointers. Despite this, it was Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers who won the MVP award with 31 points and 14 assists.
“This game was a great one. Both of the teams did their thing. Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant did good with shooting and dunking. Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving did a wonderful job putting numbers on the board leading their team to victory. I’m happy the East finally won an all star game after years of losing,” said Barbara Wilson, a sophomore biology pre-physical therapy major from Hartford, Conn.
That evening, Jason Derulo, Aloe Blacc and Mack Wilds performed at the Sprint Pregame Concert.
The State Farm All-Star Saturday Night was split into West versus East in four different competitions competing for charities. For each competition won, $100,000 went to the conference’s charities of choice. The runner up in that event received $25,000, totaling up to $500,000. Paul George, the captain of Team East charities were American Heart Association and UNICEF, while Stephen Curry, the captain of Team West charities were Teach for America and Wounded Warrior Project.
In the Sears Shooting Stars, the Eastern Conference won the Sears Shooting Stars and the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. John Wall was the Sprite Dunker of the night. On the other hand, the Western Conference won the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and the Footlocker Three-Point Contest. Both conferences were able to give $250,000 to their charities.
“I enjoy the NBA All-Star weekend, but it seems as though the same thing happens each year with mostly some of the same people. My favorite event is the Slam Dunk Contest. I would have to say Vince Carter had the best slam dunk of all time back in 2000,” said DJ Roberts, a senior entrepreneurship major from Maplewood, N.J.
The 2014 Sprint Celebrity All-Star game, featured amazing highlight plays such as an assist from last year’s Celebrity MVP, Kevin Hart to Snoop Dogg who represented the West and an outstanding performance from this year’s MVP, U.S Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who was practically a human highlight reel for the East. The game ended 60 to 56 with the East winning the game. Duncan, the MVP led the East with 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
“I found the celebrity game to be very entertaining. It was a pretty good game in general. Kevin Hart kept me laughing throughout the game with his remarks,” said Tiffanie Herron, a mass communication major from Jackson, Miss.
The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, which consisted of the rookies and sophomores, was Team Hill versus Team Webber Team Hill conquered Team Webber with a score 142 to 136. Andre Drummond, MVP of the game led his team with 30 points and 25 rebounds.
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