TheNBA All-Star Celebrity Game is an annual exhibition basketball game hosted by theNational Basketball Association as it takes place during theNBA All-Star Weekend and features retired NBA players,WNBA players, actors, musicians and athletes from sports other than basketball.

The game was first held during the2002–03 season as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend inAtlanta, Georgia. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is played on Friday in the same host city as theNBA All-Star Game.^[1][2] However, the game is not held in the same arena as all the other All-Star Saturday events. Instead, it is held on the NBA Jam Session's practice court.

There was no game in 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2022.

Kevin Hart is widely regarded as the greatest all star celebrity player of all time. He has the record for most MVP's (4). He also has the record for most consecutive MVP's (4).

The game is played with the standard NBA rules; however, there are several rule changes that are used in this game.^[3][4]

• Games were played in four-quarters of 8 minutes from 2003 to 2011; since 2012, the game was extended to 10 minutes a quarter (similar toFIBA,WNBA. andNCAA Women's rules).^[5]
• Each team is allowed one timeout per half. Timeouts don't carry over to the next half.
• From 2003 to 2012, the game clock does not stop while the play is not active except for timeouts, the final two minutes of the halves & overtime, or at the official's discretion. Since 2013, the clock stops during the final two minutes of every quarter except for timeouts, overtime and at the official's discretion.
• Overtime periods are two minutes in length with a running clock, each team is allowed one timeout during the overtime period, plus any not used in regulation.
• Players and/or coaches can be assessedtechnical fouls and could risk immediate disqualification.
• There was noMost Valuable Player until 2005. From 2005 to 2010, the media members in attendance voted for the MVP. Since 2011, the fans in attendance and TV viewers now vote for the MVP through text messaging and social media.^[6]
• The game did not use the shot clock rule put into place during the2011–12 season in which the last five seconds of the shot clock were modified to include tenths of a second from 2012 to 2014; the rule was put in effect since 2015. However, the shot clock did not use tenths in the final five seconds until during the second half of the 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
• In 2018, there is a 4-point decal located 2 feet from the top of the 3-point line which will be active during the second half of the game. To score four points, a player's foot must be touching any part of a decal. Since 2019, the 4-point decal has become a 4-point line set a yard behind the 3-point line and the line is in use for the entire game. A player's foot must be behind the 4-point line to score four points.^[7]

The inaugural NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 7, 2003, at theGeorgia World Congress Center inAtlanta, Georgia.^[8][9]

Celebrities likeJustin Timberlake andJamie Foxx highlighted this NBA All-Star Celebrity game playing alongside WNBA players, NBA legends, and other celebrities. Former NBA players and currentInside the NBA analystsKenny Smith andCharles Barkley were the opposing coaches. Kenny Smith and the Jets wound up winning in a tight-knit game 46–43.

The 2004McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 13, 2004, at theLos Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game featured celebrities fromParis Hilton toBill Walton.^[10] AlthoughRichard Jefferson of the Lakers led all scorers with 16 points,^[11] the Lakers would lose to the Braves 60–52.^[12]

The 2005McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game sponsored by Sprite was played on Friday, February 18, 2005, at theColorado Convention Center inDenver, Colorado.^[13]

RapperNelly,pop rock singerRyan Cabrera, rapper/actorIce Cube, and actorDanny Masterson were among some of the celebrities who participated.^[14] After playing the first half with the Nuggets,Entertainment Tonight correspondentKevin Frazier played the second half with Team Denver.R&B SingerBrian McKnight scored the game winning basket as he threw in an off-balance shot that sailed in while getting the foul call with 9.9 seconds in the fourth quarter, and he was named the first ever MVP of the NBA All-Star Celebrity game.^[15]

The 2006McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 17, 2006, at theGeorge R. Brown Convention Center inHouston, Texas.^[16][17]

Nelly was named MVP with a game-high 14 points and 12 rebounds and hit H-Town's only two three-pointers in a losing effort as the Clutch City Team beat the H-Town Team 37–33.

The 2007 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 16, 2007, at theLas Vegas Convention Center inWinchester, Nevada. Jamie Foxx was scheduled to play but did not play to perform at a concert later that night.^[18] Donald Faison started for the East but was traded to the West team in exchange for no one during the second quarter. During the third quarterNew Orleans Saints running back and West playerReggie Bush slightly sprained his right ankle and did not play the rest of the game. However,Access Hollywood correspondent and fellow West teammateTony Potts scored 14 points and eight rebounds for the West team as he helped the West beat the East 40–21 and was named the game's MVP. During the game,Jazz Bear, the mascot of theUtah Jazz,^[19] ESPN reporterJim Gray,^[20] and former NBA playerJerome Williams played a few minutes in the game.^[21][22]

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 15, 2008, at theErnest N. Morial Convention Center inNew Orleans, Louisiana. A total of 17 celebrities took part in the game. The game was marked by a surprise appearance by Dallas Cowboys wide receiverTerrell Owens in the middle of the second quarter, where he joined and played with the New Orleans team. Owens scored 18 points including a dunk. He was named MVP of the game after helping his team win 51–50. ESPN analystRic Bucher was the commissioner for the game.^[23]

The 2009McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 13, 2009, at thePhoenix Convention Center inPhoenix, Arizona. A total of 17 celebrities took part in the game.Basketball Hall of FamersMagic Johnson andJulius Erving, who combined for 23NBA All-Star appearances, served as coaches for the celebrity teams. NBA legends,Dominique Wilkins andClyde Drexler, were joined by former players,Dan Majerle andRick Fox, in the celebrity team roster.WNBA starsLisa Leslie andKara Lawson also participated in the game along with fourHarlem Globetrotters players.^[24]

Previous year's MVP,Terrell Owens scored a game-high 17 points and led the East Sunrisers to a 60–57 victory over the West Sunsetters. Owens, anAmerican football star forDallas Cowboys, was named as the Celebrity Game MVP for the second year in a row. The game was marked by a surprise appearance by another Hall of FamerNancy Lieberman in the middle of the game, where she joined and played with the East Sunrisers.ESPNplay-by-play commentatorMike Breen also made a surprise appearance as the referee for the game.^[25]

The 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented byFinal Fantasy XIII was played on Friday, February 12, 2010, at theDallas Convention Center inDallas, Texas. A total of 20 celebrities took part in the game, including several former basketball players.Basketball Hall of FamerMagic Johnson and five-timeNBA All-StarAlonzo Mourning, served as coaches for the celebrity teams. Three former NBA players,Robert Horry,Rick Fox andChris Mullin, along with Hall of FamerNancy Lieberman andDallas Mavericks ownerMark Cuban, participated in the game.^[26] The West team won 41–37 over the East."Special K" Daley, one of the fourHarlem Globetrotters player that participated in the game, scored game-high 18 points for the West. ActorMichael Rapaport, who scored 4 points, was named as the Celebrity Game MVP for his defense onfootball playerTerrell Owens, the MVP of the last two Celebrity Games. Owens, who played both college basketball and football inChattanooga, led the East with 10 points.^[24] The Globetrotters, joined by"Curly" Neal and"Bucket" Blakes, entertained the crowd during the timeouts with their signature ball-handling tricks.^[27]

The 2011BBVA Celebrity All-Star Game was played on Friday, February 18 at theLos Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. The head coaches wereBasketball Hall of FamersBill Walton andMagic Johnson. Their assistants were comediansTy Burrell andJason Alexander. Each team featured fake "general managers" who simulated to have chosen the team.

The game's MVP was chosen by voting through text messaging and social media. At the end of the game,Justin Bieber was announced the MVP. Bieber scored eight points (3–11 FG), and had two rebounds and four assists. NBA legendChris Mullin said of Bieber, "He's got a nice little game... but more importantly, he's got great passion. It looked like he loves the game."^[28]

The 2012Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 24, 2012, at theOrange County Convention Center inOrlando, Florida. Participants in 2012's version of the game includeJ. Cole,Common,Vinny Guadagnino,Kevin Hart, andNe-Yo.^[29]

Arne Duncan scored 17 points, and grabbed eight rebounds for the East, but teammate Kevin Hart, who recorded 8 points and 6 assists, was named the game's MVP. Hart was also given two technical fouls and was ejected from the game with about a minute to go in the fourth quarter for protesting a call made against him. The East won the game 86–54.Orlando Magic centerDwight Howard coached for the East team andOklahoma City Thunder forwardKevin Durant coached the West team.^[30]

The 2013Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 15, 2013, at theGeorge R. Brown Convention Center inHouston, Texas.^[31] The game featured 18 players, including JamaicanOlympicsprinterUsain Bolt,Entertainment Tonight correspondentRocsi Diaz, actorJosh Hutcherson,ABC News correspondentJohn Schriffen, andKevin Hart.Miami Heat small forwardLeBron James andLos Angeles Lakers shooting guardKobe Bryant served as the game's head coaches.^[32]

Josh Hutcherson was the leading scorer of the East Team with 11 points which included three3-pointers. Arne Duncan and Terrence Jenkins were the leading scorers of the West Team with 11 points; teammate Kevin Hart, however, who scored five points, three rebounds, and one assist, was named Celebrity Game MVP for the second successive year. Hart became the second player to win the Most Valuable Player award twice joiningTerrell Owens, who won it in 2008 and 2009.^[33]

The 2014Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 14, 2014, from the Sprint Arena at theNew Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center inNew Orleans, Louisiana.^[34] The game featured 18 players including comedian/actor and two-time Celebrity Game MVPKevin Hart,Victoria's Secret modelErin Heatherton, ESPNMike & Mike co-hostsMike Golic andMike Greenberg, hip-hop artistSnoop Dogg, ActorMichael B. Jordan (The Wire), United States Secretary of EducationArne Duncan, and others.ESPN'sNBA Countdown co-hostsBill Simmons andJalen Rose were the head coaches.^[35] Brandon Franklin was a fan who won theSprint's Assistant Coach for a Day Sweepstakes and he served as assistant coach for the East team.^[36]

Arne Duncan led the way with a celebrity game record of 20 points, and added 11 rebounds, and six assists as the East team beat the West team 60–56. The West's Kevin Hart scored 7 points and 4 assists was once again voted MVP by the fans; however, due to his lackluster play he passed the award to Arne Duncan.^[37]

The 2015 Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 13, 2015. It was held atMadison Square Garden in New York City, home of theNew York Knicks. This was the first celebrity game played at an NBA arena in the event's history.^[38] The game was televised nationally byESPN.^[39]

This game featured 20 players includingArcade Fire frontmanWin Butler,Bollywood actorAbhishek Bachchan,2014 Little League World Series female pitcherMo'ne Davis,WNBA playerSkylar Diggins,Paralympic athleteBlake Leeper, NBA hall of famerChris Mullin, andMemphis Grizzlies ownerRobert Pera. This game also featured two All-Star Celebrity Game MVPs; 2010 winnerMichael Rapaport and 2012, 2013, and 2014 winnerKevin Hart.^[40]

ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" hostsMike Golic andMike Greenberg coached the West and East teams respectively. The West team assistant coaches were film directorSpike Lee and tennis legendJohn McEnroe. New York Knicks'small forwardCarmelo Anthony and formerBaylor Bears centerIsaiah Austin was the assistant coaches for the East team.^[41] Actress and singerKeke Palmer sang the national anthem, and Canadianreggae fusion bandMagic! performed at halftime.^[42]

Although the West led byAtlanta Dream point guardShoni Schimmel with 17 points beat the East 57–51,Kevin Hart of the East who scored 15 points and won the MVP award. This was Hart's fourth MVP award in a row, a record for the Celebrity Game. Hart would then announce his retirement from the annual celebrity game.^[43]

The 2016 NBA Celebrity All-Star Game was played on February 12, 2016, at theRicoh Coliseum in Toronto.^[44][45]

The game was a matchup of Team Canada vs. Team USA, coached by Canadian rapperDrake, and 4-time Celebrity Game MVPKevin Hart, respectively. It featured 21 players, including actorsStephan James,Jason Sudeikis,Anthony Anderson,O'Shea Jackson, Jr.,Joel David Moore, andTom Cavanagh, and TV hostsNick Cannon,Terrence Jenkins, and theProperty Brothers. The game also included four NBA legends inChauncey Billups,Muggsy Bogues,Tracy McGrady, andRick Fox, as well asElena Delle Donne andTammy Sutton-Brown of theWNBA.^[46][47]

Despite the efforts of head coach Kevin Hart who later played in the game in the second half, Team Canada won 74–64 andWin Butler was named MVP of the game.

The 2017 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 17, 2017, at theMercedes-Benz Superdome.^[48]

The game was a matchup of Team East vs. Team West, coached by ESPNSportsCenter hostsMichael Smith andJemele Hill, respectively. The game featured 23 players, including actorsAnsel Elgort,Caleb McLaughlin, &Romeo Miller, and TV hostNick Cannon. The game also includes two NBA legends,Jason Williams, andBaron Davis, as well asLindsay Whalen andCandace Parker of theWNBA.^[49]

The game ended up being the second most lopsided game in Celebrity Game history to date. The East Team's 88 points were the most ever scored by one team, and their 29-point margin of victory was the second largest ever. Even though last year's MVP and the East Team player Win Butler scored 22 points and 11 rebounds, his teammate Brandon Armstrong won the 2017 All-Star Celebrity Game MVP award with 16 points and 15 rebounds.^[50][51]

The 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 16, 2018, at theLos Angeles Convention Center.^[52][53][54] In honor of Los Angeles as host city, the two teams were named after its two NBA teams, withRachel Nichols coaching TeamLakers andKatie Nolan coaching TeamClippers (Team Clippers).

The 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 15, 2019, at theBojangles' Coliseum inCharlotte, North Carolina.^[55][56] The Home team featured personnel who either was born, raised, and/or played in North Carolina orSouth Carolina. Both teams had one "Hometown Hero" on their roster honoring exemplary citizens who rose to the occasion to help save others in the time of need.^[57] Playing for the Home Team was Jason Weinmann, a 47-year-oldU.S. Marine who used his own military transport vehicle to rescueNew Bern, North Carolina residents stranded duringHurricane Florence in 2018.^[58] Playing for the Away Team wasJames Shaw Jr., a 29-year-old electrical technician who disarmed a gunman armed with anAR-15 style rifle during theNashville Waffle House shooting inAntioch, Tennessee.^[59] The 2019 Celebrity All-Star Game MVP was won by Famous Los, who scored 22 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.^[60]

The 2020 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 14, 2020, at theWintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.^[61][62] The coaches for the 2020 game wereFirst Take analystStephen A. Smith andPardon the Interruption co-hostMichael Wilbon. Team Wilbon defeated Team Stephen A. 62–47 andCommon took home the MVP award with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.^[63]

Nate Robinson joined Team Stephen A. for the second half, whileHorace Grant joined Team Wilbon.Former Secretary of EducationArne Duncan was a late addition to Team Wilbon. Smith also received the first technical for a head coach in Celebrity Game History.

The 2022 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 18, 2022, at theWolstein Center inCleveland,Ohio.^[65] The coaches for the 2022 game were NBA legendsBill Walton andDominique Wilkins. Team Walton defeated Team Nique 65–51 and Alex Toussaint took home the MVP award with 18 points.^[66]

The 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was played on Friday, February 17, 2023, at theJon M. Huntsman Center inSalt Lake City,Utah.^[67] The captains for the 2023 wereUtah Jazz team governorRyan Smith and NBA legend and Jazz minority ownerDwyane Wade.

The game featured several new features and rules; afour-point field goal line was added, and the coaches could each activate a two-minute "Crunch Time" period in which all points are doubled.^[68] The game ended with an attemptedhalf-courtbuzzer beater that went into the bucket byThe Miz, which would've won the game as a four-point field goal; it was, however, the field goal was disallowed as it was shot slightly after the buzzer.^[69][70][71]

The 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was held on Friday, February 16, 2024, at theLucas Oil Stadium inIndianapolis,Indiana, withFirst Take personalitiesShannon Sharpe andStephen A. Smith serving as honorary coaches.^[72] The "Crunch Time" (each team receiving the ability to activate two minutes of double-points) andfour-point line rules introduced at the previous year's game returned.^[73]

The 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was held on Friday, February 14, 2025, at theOakland Arena inOakland,California, with NFL legendJerry Rice and MLB legendBarry Bonds serving as honorary coaches. The "Crunch Time" (each team receiving the ability to activate two minutes of double-points) andfour-point line rules introduced returned.^[74]

• NBA All-Star Game
• Celebrity competitions
• Recurring sporting events established in 2003

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