The horrific deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant has caused the NBA to announce major changes for one of its signature events – the All-Star Game.
This year, NBA All-Star will emanate from the United Center in Chicago with other events – such as the Celebrity Game – occurring at Wintrust Arena, the home of the Chicago Sky. For the main game, the two teams will honor the Bryants via their jersey numbers.
The NBA announced that players for Team Giannis (Antetokounmpo) will wear No. 24 and players for Team LeBron (will wear No. 2). It also announced that every player that is part of this year’s NBA All-Star weekend will don a patch with nine stars in remembrance of the nine lives that were lost in the Calabasas helicopter crash.
In addition, 24 points will be added to the leading team’s score after three quarters and a target score will be set. The winning team will be the first team that reaches said target score.
In addition to Kobe and GiGi Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan (the helicopter’s pilot) lost their lives in the tragic crash in California.
The players for Team LeBron and Team Giannis will be selected on Thursday. Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics), Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) and Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) were chosen as starters with the two captains.
The reserves were announced as Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) and Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) were announced as the reserves.
