As to be expected, the 2021 All-Star Game was one of pure entertainment, riddled with huge moments and new records. Three takeaways from the game? Lesson #1: Sitting 4-0 as All-Star Team Captain, LeBron knows how to pick em’, Lesson #2: 3’s & Beyond are Taking Over! Which brings us to our final message, and Lesson #3: Never doubt the shooting ability of Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard!
The two teams were divided: Team Durant and Team LeBron.
Team Durant’s roster included: Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Mike Conley, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Julius Randle, and Nikola Vučević, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid.
Team Lebron’s roster included: Lebron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Jaylen Brown, Paul George, Rudy Gobert, Damian Lillard, Domantas Sabonis, Chris Paul, and Ben Simmons.
The greatest highlights of Sunday’s matchup were no doubt provided by Team LeBron teammates Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard.
Both Steph and Dame would have eight 3s… a piece!
Steph would drain, not one, not two, but a total of three 3s from long-range (to be more specific, the half-court logo)! Steph would have six threes in the first half alone.
Dame would come off the bench to play 21 minutes in which he would put up his own 30+ foot bombs, the final of which being a half-court game-winning shot!
Many have been referring to the pair as ‘Logo Brothers’ as their range was so deep, they quite literally were shooting from the NBA logo at half-court!
Five minutes into gameplay, Steph lobbed one up a 3 from the corner…his specialty. For dramatic effect, he’d turn his back to the court while the ball splashed into the net behind him! After Curry’s gorgeous 3, LeBron reached out to congratulate his teammate… Still wounds strange saying that, but it was definitely a neat sight to see!
A sideline Damian Lillard could be found wearing a determined smile, almost saying, “So this guy is really going to show off like this already, huh?” If we all would have paid attention to Dame’s face then, we would have known a shootout was to come…
Curry would later release another long strike, this time out in front of James Harden, who could do nothing but watch, probably wondering, ‘How did I not get on that team?’
The captain himself, Lebron James, would lend his assistance, feeding Steph to break a 23-23 tie with just under five to play in the first quarter. James put a finger up in the air before the ball even made its landing. To no surprise, the 3-splash followed. We all know Curry is a spectacular 3 shot, but this one was different, and by different, we’re talking near mid-court! Chef Curry was taking the shot to a whole new level!
Later Curry would even offer a one-handed backward pass that landed perfectly in the hands of Lebron James (who might I add was on the complete opposite end of the court!) After receiving the ball, LeBron would make a sharp bounce for Rudy Gobert to jump up, grab and plunge into the basket! The execution was perfect.
As All-Star games go, there were definitely some rims rattled in Sunday’s play. On his second All-Star appearance, Jayson Tatum would lob a one-handed beauty into the cup after receiving a flawless pass by his teammate Kyrie Irving!
Of Course, we can’t leave the powerful King James out of this conversation. The team captain would start off the 2ndquarter leaving behind a trail of men before he got personal with the rim on a one-handed slam! Sometimes royalty has to stand alone I suppose.
First-time All-Star Zion Williamson would also make some noise at the rim on a pair of monstrous dunks, one of which coming from a swift Kyrie Irving who would zip past defenders for a pristine set-up! Speaking of Kyrie, the seven-time All-Star would have a pretty sweet game himself, finishing Sunday’s game with double-doubles: 24 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, and two steals!
However, Team LeBron simply came in even stronger…
Less than five minutes before halftime, Curry would backpedal, at one point almost seeming to lose the ball before grabbing it almost at half court, throwing it up and… well you know what happened next. The seven-time All-Star was too hot!
Team LeBron’s feet were on the gas, and they clearly weren’t letting off any time soon. Giannis Antetokounmpo would drain a perfect three from the corner with under three to play. The ‘Greek Freak’ had something on his side in his fifth-All Star appearance as every shot he released last night went through the net!
With about a minute left of play in the 2ndquarter, CP3 would set up a stunning Alley Oop for #30. Steph would pound it in and even offer a little hang time on the rim, a rare sighting from the PG. Definitely a little All-Star flare!
Just seconds later, Curry would return the favor creating probably the coolest connection all game on another point guard to point guard play. He’d find the 11-time All-Star, Chris Paul who’d show off his hops, springing up to the rim like it was nothing! Curry & Paul were all smiles, clearly just having fun with the game of basketball.
As the shot clock winded down to close the 2ndquarter, Dame made it clear that he wasn’t going out without making some racket himself. With 20 seconds to go, he’d fire from half court, hitting nothing but N-E-T!
10 seconds left and already simmering, it was only right for Chef Curry to answer. Steph would bank in #7 for the day from the exact same spot his teammate had shot just 10 seconds prior!
These two were shooting as if it was just a usual jump shot, as their form and power were absolutely seamless!
The 2ndhalf would be no different story for Team LeBron as they would dominate the remainder of the game. Midway through the 3rdquarter, Giannis would again strike from 3, and would knock it through, even surprising himself!
The game highlight would come however in the 4thquarter as Big Dame Lillard would close it all out, hitting the three shots in a row that would take his team from 161 to the 170-point score target to win the game! How 9 points with just three shots? Simple answer… straight 3s babyyyyy!
Chef Curry started his team off right and Dame simply picked up the baton, and never fumbled it! With only three needed to seal the victory, Lillard would sink it from half court! Just as Curry half courts appeared all game, Dame made it look as effortless as a jumper! He’d then point one finger to his wrist, and we all know what that means… Daaaaaame Tiiiiiiiime!
Team LeBron’s victory would donate more than $1 million to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Additionally, Team Durant would donate $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund. As the NBA used the 2021 All-Star Weekend to support HBCUs, both teams were able to use their talents to give back in a way that will create opportunities for future leaders in our communities.
An enthusiastic Greek Freak was crowned the 2021 All-Star MVP, finishing the game with 35 points and a perfect 16-16 from the field, setting a new All-Star record!
As the All-Stars left it all out on the floor, one thing for sure the future of NBA basketball is going to be something serious!
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