Reliving the Top 10 Moments From the 2019 NBA Celebrity All Star Game

2025-11-21 10:00

I still remember sitting in the State Farm Arena that February evening in 2019, feeling the unique energy that only the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game can generate. There's something wonderfully absurd about watching famous actors, musicians, and athletes from other sports competing in basketball with varying degrees of competence. The 2019 edition particularly stood out, delivering moments that ranged from surprisingly skilled to delightfully chaotic. As someone who's attended multiple All-Star weekends, I can confidently say this celebrity game captured that perfect balance between entertainment and genuine competition that fans crave.

The opening sequence alone deserved its own highlight reel. Watching comedian Famous Los literally stumble through player introductions while trying to maintain his cool remains etched in my memory. The contrast between his on-court swagger and subsequent tripping over his own feet created that beautiful human moment we rarely see in professional sports. This reminded me of that insightful observation from volleyball culture - "with a bar so high, even the narrowest of set losses becomes a cause for concern." Here, the bar was set for entertainment, and every misstep somehow added to the spectacle rather than detracting from it. I've always believed that celebrity games succeed when participants fully embrace their skill levels rather than pretending to be something they're not.

Quincy Isaiah's performance as point guard for Team Home absolutely stunned me. The actor, relatively unknown at the time, displayed court vision that would make actual NBA players nod in approval. His behind-the-back pass to Rachel DeMita in the second quarter wasn't just good for a celebrity game - it was genuinely creative playmaking. Statistics from the night showed he finished with 8 assists in just 22 minutes of play, an impressive number considering the chaotic nature of these games. What impressed me most was his decision-making under pressure, something even professional athletes sometimes struggle with during All-Star festivities.

Then there was the unexpected dominance of Dr. Oz, of all people. The television personality scored 17 points, including three consecutive three-pointers during a critical stretch in the third quarter. I recall turning to my friend and joking, "He's prescribing buckets tonight!" The arena's energy shifted from amused surprise to genuine excitement with each swish. His performance demonstrated how these games can produce unlikely heroes, creating narratives that no scriptwriter could invent. From my perspective, these unexpected standout performances are what make celebrity games worth watching - they disrupt our expectations about who can excel in athletic contexts.

The commentary duo of Michael Rapaport and Leslie Jones provided what I consider the funniest moments of the broadcast. Their courtside banter, particularly Jones' increasingly loud reactions to every dramatic play, added layers of entertainment beyond the actual game. When comedian Hannibal Buress attempted a half-court shot that missed everything by about ten feet, Jones' scream of "BABY, WHAT WAS THAT?" echoed through the arena and perfectly captured the collective sentiment. These spontaneous interactions between celebrities in different roles - players, commentators, spectators - create the unique ecosystem that defines the celebrity game experience.

I can't discuss the 2019 game without mentioning the MVP performance by Famous Los, who redeemed his clumsy introduction with 22 points and relentless defensive effort. His transformation from court-jester to legitimate competitor represented the narrative arc these games occasionally produce. The moment he sank the game-winning free throws with 12 seconds remaining, then immediately struck his signature pose, encapsulated everything wonderful about the event. It was theatrical, competitive, and authentically celebratory all at once. In my years covering sports entertainment, I've rarely seen an athlete or celebrity so completely win over an audience within a single event.

The female participants deserve special recognition for often being the most fundamentally sound players on the court. WNBA legend Katie Smith, coaching Team Away, implemented strategic elements that elevated the entire game's quality. Meanwhile, ESPN host Elle Duncan demonstrated basketball IQ that put many male participants to shame. Her defensive positioning and unselfish ball movement stood out to me as particularly refined. Having followed women's basketball for years, I appreciated how these celebrity games increasingly showcase the talent and intelligence female athletes bring to basketball contexts, regardless of the setting.

What struck me most about the 2019 game was how it balanced pure entertainment with moments of genuine athletic excellence. The 84-82 final score reflected a properly competitive contest rather than the glorified dunk exhibitions these games sometimes become. The fourth-quarter intensity, with celebrities actually diving for loose balls and properly contesting shots, demonstrated how competitive instincts emerge regardless of someone's primary profession. I've always argued that the best celebrity games make you forget they're celebrity games for stretches, and the 2019 edition accomplished this beautifully.

Reflecting on that evening, I'm struck by how these moments have aged in my memory. The image of Ray Allen, an actual NBA legend, coaching Team Home with visible intensity contrasts wonderfully with the memory of comedian JB Smoove attempting to argue a call with a referee while wearing oversized glasses. These juxtapositions create the magic of the event. The 2019 NBA Celebrity All-Star Game succeeded not just as entertainment but as a genuine celebration of basketball's cultural reach. It demonstrated how the sport can bring together diverse talents and transform them, however briefly, into a cohesive competitive unit. For all the organized perfection of the actual All-Star Game, I've always found the celebrity edition delivers more authentic human moments and, ultimately, more memorable basketball.