NBA All-Star Weekend

Mac McClung Stuns NBA Fans With Dunk Contest Victory

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If you don’t know the name Mac McClung, it is hard to really blame you. McClung is one of those players who really made a name for himself thanks to highlight tapes on social media. Throughout his time in high school and college, he was a dunking machine. Overall, he is just 6’2″ which makes his bounce truly impressive. However, aside from his amazing dunking ability, he has yet to really make much of an impact in the NBA. He originally signed with the Lakers only to be relegated to the G-League. Subsequently, this past week, he signed a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Additionally, McClung opted to put his name into the ring for the dunk contest. As we all know, the NBA Dunk Contest isn’t what it used to be as the star power isn’t there. This year, many fans were stunned by the lack of name recognition, and the presence of a G-League player made it that much less appealing for some people. However, Mac McClung went into the competition with the mindset that he would try and win an NBA role. In the end, he certainly did not disappoint.

Mac McClung Takes It All

In the video clip above, McClung was able to secure the Dunk Contest title with a 540-degree dunk. This is a move that certainly impressed all of the judges and those in the arena. Moreover, McClung was swarmed by fans, players, and celebrities upon making this dunk. It was a truly special moment for the young man, and we’re sure he was pumped by the reactions. In the eyes of many, he helped save the dunk contest.

As for NBA Twitter, they were also pumped about all of this. “Man was a viral HOH high school dunk phenom, still working his way to the League, but lemme go get that dunk contest trophy right quick and bring it back to life!!!” Steph Curry said. McClung also received immense praise from Magic Johnson, who said “Mac McClung has personally saved the slam dunk contest with his performance tonight.” Needless to say, the G-League star came through with a heroic effort that may just earn him some playing time in the NBA.

NBA Twitter Reacts

Damian Lillard Wins 3-Point Contest At NBA All-Star Weekend

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Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has won the 3-point contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, achieving what he says was a life goal of his. Lillard finished just one point ahead of Buddy Hield to secure the title on Saturday night. Other competitors in the event included Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.

“This was a goal of mine because as a shooter, any time you come into a competition like this, you want to win it,” Lillard said after the win. “I had done it two times before this, and I feel like I just didn’t take it serious enough. You know, I wanted to just shoot my way to a win, and I wasn’t shooting the ball really disciplined. I was lazy. I wanted to win at least one time before I was done playing. That’s why I took this one a little more serious, and it just happened that way.”

Lillard’s Comments

Lillard explained that he was miscounting in his head during the match, and thought he only had a chance to tie Hield’s score of 26. “It got to a point where I was counting in my head because the first round I didn’t even finish the rack because I was trying to look and find my score,” Lillard said. “This time I started counting, and I lost track. So as I got down the stretch of that last two racks, I was counting. I knew I had to make all of them, but I thought I was on track to tie him. I actually lost count. But I knew I needed to make all of them. Then when I looked up, I was, like, ‘Oh, that’s 26.’ It’s ironic that it came down to that, and I had to tighten up and come up big at the end. But, that’s typical for me.”

Lillard is currently averaging 31.4 points, ranking him fourth in scoring for the league. The feat isn’t enough to carry the Blazers to a playoff spot as the team is only 28-30 on the season. They’re currently ranked 12th in the western conference. The NBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 8:00 PM, ET on Sunday night.

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Simu Liu Responds To Celebrity Look-Alike Segment At NBA All-Star Weekend

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Simu Liu has responded to the controversial “celebrity look-a-like” game that played on the jumbotron during the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Liu says that he had a great experience at All-Star Weekend, but that the moment stood out and “wasn’t cool.” Many criticized the look-alike game for being racist afterward. Liu played for Team Dwyane Wade at the event. His squad defeated Team Ryan Smith by a narrow margin of 81-78. Janelle Monáe, DK Metcalf, The Miz, and more also played in the game.

“I had a great time but this wasn’t cool,” Liu wrote on Twitter afterward, before adding in a follow-up tweet, “to be perfectly clear the entire org and ops team surrounding all-star have been nothing but absolutely stellar to myself and all my friends. this was just one person with a camera. and no disrespect to my man in the videotron either! he’s gorgeous we just don’t look alike.”

Simu Liu’s Response

Many fans on social media sided with Simu Liu regarding the incident. One user wrote: “i seriously despise how people are so easily comfortable with being racist towards asian people. that fan looks nothing like simu liu at all whatsoever man.” Another added: “Just need to do away with this trend. It’s too touchy. I mean it’s always gonna ruffle feathers whether it’s about race or not. Not everyone likes getting roasted or made fun of. We lose nothing if they stop doing it honestly.” Actress Nathalie Emmanuel also came to Liu’s defense writing, “Oh absolutely not.”

Simu Liu is best known for playing the titular character in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Looking forward, Liu will be appearing in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film, Barbie. The movie also features Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and more. It’s set to hit theaters on July 21, 2023. He is also set to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming movie, Arthur the King. Nathalie Emmanuel will also appear in the film. In 2022, TIME named Liu one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

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21 Savage Scores Team’s 21st Point In NBA Celebrity All-Star Game

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Sometimes basketball is more than just a game; it’s destiny. 21 Savage scored his team’s 21st point at the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game this weekend. Moreover, Dwayne Wade led 21 and his team against Utah Jazz Ryan Smith. While Milwaukee Bucks giant Gianns Antetokuonmpo coached the Atlanta rapper’s side, his teammates included Janelle Monáe and Hasan Minhaj. Even with rappers like Cordae as court opps, Savage still gave an impressive performance. Before the actual game, both teams competed in a 4-point challenge where players earned $4,000 for each bucket.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – FEBRUARY 17: 21 Savage plays in the Ruffles Celebrity Game during the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend at Vivint Arena on February 17, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Furthermore, 21’s first quarter also contained an assist to tennis star Francis Tiafoe. After two turnovers and a hard foul, the “Privileged Rappers” MC scored a three-pointer, giving Team Wade the lead with 21 to 19 with a minute and a half to go in the first quarter. Meanwhile, their opposition sometimes took some breaks to cool off. Even though Cordae scored zero points, he enjoyed some courtside pizza with coach Fat Joe. Still, at the end of the day, Team Wade won the game in tense and unpredictable fashion.

Moreover, WWE superstar The Mix sank a half-court shot to secure victory, with the final score being 81-78. Also, accomplished Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf received MVP honors with 20 points, ten rebounds, and four blocks on 9-of-16 shooting. Of course, this is one of the more unorthodox but potentially iconic wins in 21’s recent history. Not only did he recently score a fateful shot for his victorious team, but he took some dubs in court as well. Recently, him and Drake settled their lawsuit from Condé Nast for their fake Vogue covers to promote their album Her Loss.

Well, maybe ‘win’ isn’t the right word for the settlement. After all, Condé Nast sought at least $4 million in damages for the falsified promotional material. However, reports did not specify the amount of said settlement, so maybe things didn’t get that steep. Overall, at least the “Umbrella” rapper can add “kismet baller” to his resumé after his Celebrity All-Star performance. Regardless of your own hooping skills, come back to HNHH for the latest on 21 Savage and the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend.

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Janelle Monae Got Bars On “Float” Ft. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

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Janelle Monae has been busy in recent times but, unfortunately, she hasn’t dropped a ton of music. However, she hasn’t been in the cut, either. Last year, she appeared in the film, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which led to mass critical acclaim. The National Board of Review Award honored her in the Best Supporting Actress category. Around the same time, she won in the same category at The Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards. Still, there’s been a strong demand for her to drop some new music.

It’s been nearly five years since she blessed fans with a new body of work. Monae dropped Dirty Computer in 2018. The 14-song effort boasted appearances from Pharrell Williams, Zoe Kravitz, Grimes, and Brian Wilson, leading to even more critical acclaim. Still, she didn’t leave fans empty handed. Throughout the past few years, she’s blessed fans with a handful of singles, like “Stronger” and “Say My Name (Hell You Talmbout).” The pair of singles as well as her Lady & The Tramp contribution, “That’s Enough,” have held fans over until she prepared her next body of work.

Janelle Monae Taps Sean Kuti & Egypt 80 For “Float”

Following a two-year hiatus from releasing music, Janelle Monae came through with some new heat for fans this week with the release of “Float.” The single marks her first drop since 2021 and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. Monae’s joined by Sean Kuti, the legendary son of Fela Kuti, and Egypt 80 for the record. Though her vocal prowess is on 10, she takes cues from hip-hop, dropping bars over rolling 808 hi-hats. “Float,” produced by Nana Kwabena, Nate “Rocket” Wonder, and Sensei Bueno, is a bouncy bop that’s bound to get stuck in your head.

The anticipation for the latest release from Janelle Monae is high. She first teased the record last year and the record will now be used for NBA coverage. Though she won’t be performing during All-Star Weekend, you’ll be able to catch her during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 17th. Check her new single above.

Quotable Lyrics
Came back from the future to take all y’all niggas and take all y’all hoes
They said I was bi, yeah, baby, I’m bi, a whole ‘nother coast
She stay in the Hills, he stay in Atlanta, I paid for them both
My face card don’t come with a limit, I swipe it, I spend it, I swear I be doin’ the most

Post Malone, Tems, & More Added To 2023 All-Star Weekend Lineup

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The NBA has added a series of high-profile artists to the list of performers at the 2023 All-Star Weekend. Post Malone is perhaps the biggest name who will now be hitting the stage later this month. 2023 GRAMMY Award-winning singer and Oscar-nominated singer and producer Tems will also be performing at the event. Other artists include Burna Boy, Jewel, and Rema. Vin Diesel will also now be joining Ben Affleck to introduce the athletes for the game.

The NBA previously announced that The Kid LAROI and Bia will be performing during the weekend as well. They’ll serve as the headliners for the AT&T NBA All-Star Pregame Concert. After the performance, the NBA family will honor LeBron James for becoming the league’s all-time scoring leader.

All-Star Weekend Announcement

The performance for Post Malone comes just weeks after fans on social media expressed concern about his health. The worry came after a video of him looking slimmer than normal during a recent show made its way to the internet. A source close to the rapper confirmed to TMZ that “he’s not on drugs or sick.” Instead, they explained that he recently gained weight for a movie role but has since been “adhering to a strict diet and working out.” Malone will be performing a medley of hits following the first-ever in-arena NBA All-Star Draft.

LeBron James broke the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, earlier this month. When he did, the league paused the game to honor him on the court. His mother, wife, and children met and embraced him as Commissioner Adam Silver and previous record-holder Kareem Abdul-Jabbar congratulated him. “I want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one-of-a-kind. To be able to be in the presence of a such a legend and great as Kareem means so much to me. It’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to Cap, please,” James said to the crowd. The 72nd NBA All-Star Game will tip off at 8:30 PM, ET on Sunday, February 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City and air on TNT.

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21 Savage, Cordae, And Janelle Monáe Are Playing In The 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

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21 savage nba
Getty Image

It’s that time of year again: NBA All-Star Weekend is almost upon us. And you know what that means: The rosters for the All-Star Celebrity Game have been announced!

This year, All-Star Weekend will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, so the teams will be coached by the Utah Jazz governor Ryan Smith, as well as minority owner — and former NBA All-Star — Dwyane Wade.

While Smith says he has no intention of playing, his team is stacked with talent — just maybe not the basketball kind. He’s got a ton of musicians on his team, including rapper Cordae, country star Kane Brown, and Latin trap singer Ozuna.

Not to be outdone on the music front, Wade’s tapped his own all-star squad of the musical variety, with 21 Savage, Janelle Monáe, and Nicky Jam all suiting up.

Of course, neither team is lacking for athletics. Albert Pujols, Calvin Johnson, DK Metcalf, and the Miz are all on rosters, along with WNBA stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Diamond DeShields. It should be a fun game all around — and really, isn’t that the point?

The All-Star Celebrity Game is scheduled for Friday, February 17 at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. (5 Mountain Time… thanks a lot, Utah. First, you don’t have internet, now this).

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

21 Savage Headlines NBA Celebrity All-Star Game Rosters

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At this point in his career, 21 Savage is one of the biggest artists in hip-hop. Overall, he is beloved by fans, and his growth over the past few years has been stunning to watch. Additionally, his efforts on Drake’s Her Loss project have kept him busy. He is embarking on a tour with Drake, and it is certainly going to be a whole lot of fun. If you are a fan of the artist, you can’t help but be excited by what he is producing. He continues to get better and better, and we’re sure that will continue to be the case as time goes on.

In addition to his rap interests, 21 has proven himself to be a sports fan. Occasionally, he competes in some friendly games of basketball, and overall, he has improved his game over the years. One could perhaps attribute this to Drake, who is constantly improving his own basketball skills. Either way, the artist is now getting ready to showcase these skills as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. Yes, that’s right, 21 is going to be in the celebrity game.

21 Savage Takes Part

21 Savage performs during the Amazon Music Live Music Concert Series on December 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Amazon Music)

Overall, there are some pretty big names that are included in this celebrity game. However, 21 Savage stands out as some of the biggest stars. According to Billboard, his team will be captained by Dwyane Wade, and he will have some very famous teammates. Among these teammates are Janelle Monae, Simu Liu, Albert Pujols, and Frances Tiafoe. Additionally, the other team will be captained by Ryan Smith, who is a governor of the Utah Jazz. Members of this team will include Cordae, Calvin Johnson, DK Metcalf, Ozuna, and many more.

If you are interested in watching this celebrity game, you will be able to do so as of Friday, February 17th at 7 PM EST. The game will be broadcast through ESPN and should be quite the event. Let us know which team you think is going to win, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the sports world.

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Chlöe And Wiz Khalifa Will Grace NBA All-Star Weekend By Headlining ‘The NBA On TNT American Express Road Show’

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Chloe Bailey press photo 2023
Jack Bridgland

Following the surprise trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks from the Brooklyn Nets, it’s up in the air whether Irving will be on the East or West squad in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on February 19. But today, February 6, Uproxx can exclusively report on Chlöe and Wiz Khalifa’s whereabouts to tip off NBA All-Star Weekend.

Chlöe and Khalifa are set to headline the NBA On TNT American Express Road Show at The Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday, February 16.

Per a release, “the day-long fan experience will include a live studio broadcast,” which will be anchored by the beloved Inside The NBA ensemble of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal.

It continues, “In addition to the live telecast, the free event will offer fan competitions via the NBA on TNT Arcade, food, drinks, premium giveaways and other interactive games throughout the evening, as well as watch parties for the matchups: Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns.”

Chlöe, Uproxx’s August 2022 cover star, is gearing up to release In Pieces, her debut solo album due out in March. She dropped the soulful “Pray It Away,” its lead single, in late January.

Meanwhile, Khalifa started 2023 by performing “Memory Lane” from his July 2022 album Multiverse and his breakthrough hit”Black And Yellow” during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. It’s fitting that Khalifa is involved with NBA All-Star Weekend because he recently brushed up on his game at the expense of his son.

American Express Card Members have early access to tickets to the NBA On TNT American Express Road Show here before the general sale begins tomorrow, February 7. Learn more about the event here.

The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will begin at 8 p.m. ET and broadcast live on TNT from Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. See the full schedule for NBA All-Star Weekend here.

Wiz Khalifa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

LeBron James Headlines NBA All-Star Starters, Fans React

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LeBron James is currently in his 20th season in the NBA, and somehow, he is still dominating. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is currently averaging 30 points per game, and he is just a few games away from the scoring record. Overall, it was inevitable that he would make another All-Star game.

This year, things are a bit different in terms of the format. Once again, there will be two captains. However, instead of drafting their teams a week before the game, they will do so just an hour before tip-off. The draft will be live, and we will get the reactions of the last pick.

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 22, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

LeBron James Strikes Again

This year, the All-Star voting was weighted 50 percent by fans, 25 percent by players, and 25 percent by the media. After a long tally of votes, LeBron James was named captain of the West, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is the East captain.

Subsequently, it was revealed that the eight other starters are Nikola Jokic, Zion Williamson, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and Donovan Mitchell. Soon, we will find out the reserves, which are based on the ranking of the coaches.

In the tweets down below, you can find reactions to the voting. As you can imagine, a lot of people took issue with the rankings of certain players. Mostly, people felt it was egregious that Kyrie Irving was ranked first amongst players and fans, but 4th in the media rank.

Of course, Irving has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, which likely led to the media voting being the way it is. Overall, he is still a starter, which is going to make fans very happy.

Let us know what you think of the All-Star starters, in the comments down below.

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