NBA Celebrity All-Star Game 2018: Rosters, TV Info and MVP Pick
The NBA Celebrity All-Star Game gives stars of stage, screen and music the chance to show off their athletic skills and basketball talents.
When Team Lakers squares off against Team Clippers Friday night as part of the NBA All-Star weekend, from February 16-18, it may be difficult to find better players than Jamie Foxx and Nick Cannon.
Foxx is a former high school football star and basketball player, and he has shown off his athletic ability in Any Given Sunday and several other movies, while Cannon will be playing in his 10th celebrity game.
In a late addition to the rosters, pop-star Justin Bieber will join Team Lakers, while rapper Quavo will suit up for Team Clippers.ย
Here's a look at the rosters of the two teams:
Team Lakers
Caleb McLaughlin,ย Stranger Thingsย actor
Jerry Ferrara,ย Entourageย actor
Rachel DeMita, NBA2KTV host
Nick Cannon, actor/rapper/comedian
Drew Scott,ย Property Brothersย co-host
Kris Wu, actor/singer
Sterling Brim,ย Ridiculousnessย co-host
Terence Crawford, pro boxer
Tracy McGrady, Naismith Hall of Famer
Nate Robinson, 11-year NBA veteran
Candace Parker, two-time WNBA MVP and 2016 WNBA champion
Marc Lasry, Bucks co-owner
Justin Bieber, singer
Team Clippers
Miles Brown,ย Black-ishย actor
Brandon Armstrong, social media star
Dascha Polanco,ย Orange Is the New Blackย actress
Flea, musician
Andre De Grasse, Olympic sprinter
Jamie Foxx, actor/singer/comedian
Bubba Watson, pro golfer/two-time Masters champion
Common, actor/rapper
Paul Pierce, 10-time NBA All-Star and 2008 NBA champion
Jason Williams, 12-year NBA veteran and 2006 NBA champion
Stefanie Dolson, two-time WNBA All-Star and two-time NCAA champion
Win Butler, Arcade Fire lead singer
Quavo, rapper
The Celebrity All-Star Game will be played at the Verizon Up Arena at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which is quite close to the Staples Center.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m ET, and it will be televised by ESPN. The celebrity game will also be streamed on the WatchESPNย app.
ESPN's Rachel Nichols will coach Team Lakers with assistance from Tracy McGrady and actor Michael B. Jordan, while Katie Nolan, also of ESPN, will coach Team Clippers. She will get help from Paul Pierce and rapper/actor Common.
This game will feature a four-point line that will come into play in the second half of the game. If players can make a shot from an area that is dubbed "The Ridge," sponsor Ruffles (the potato chip brand), will make a donation of $4,000 to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Prediction
The belief here is that Foxx and Cannon are the two best athletes in the celebrity game and the two best basketball players.
However, Cannon has youth on his side, and that should spell the difference. Cannon, 37, will be playing in his 10th celebrity game, while Foxx, 50, is playing in his first.
Look for Foxx to get off to a fast start, and he should get to double figures before halftime. However, that's when Foxx will run out of gas.
Cannon will play a smooth and complete game, and he will lead Team Lakers to the victory and win the MVP award with a strong second-half performance.
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