Despite Indianapolis becoming a winter wonderland in the matter of a few hours, droves of fans in the thousands came out to Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis to see their favorite A-list movie stars, award-winning rappers, streamers, football players and more at the Ruffles All-Star Celebrity Game Feb. 16.
Team Shannon defeated Team Stephen A. 100-91 in front of (and beneath) nearly two million LEDs that graced the stadium, including the cutting-edge LED court floor.
Many stars assembled behind media personality Stephen A. Smith including Houston Texans quarterback and NFL Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, WNBA player Natasha Cloud, Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman, EGOT winner and former Indiana Pacers forward Metta World Peace.
Hudson said that it would be great to add All-Star MVP of the celebrity game to her impressive list of accomplishments.
More NBA All-Star news: Prom King Haliburton & East dismantle West in All-Star Game in Indy
Ultimately, the Celebrity Game MVP favored Micah Parsons, who scored a hefty 37 points.
“I brought my aggression to this court and I’m leaving with this award,” Parsons said in a post-game interview.
C.J. Stroud was right behind Parsons with 31 points.
World Peace, a fan favorite in Indy, donned a No. 91 Ron Artest celebrity jersey during his return to Indianapolis for the festivities.
On the other side of the ball, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, musical artist Walker Hayes, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, award-winning streamer Kai Cenat, WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd, actor Quincy Isaiah, rapper Sir were just some of the celebrities that made up Team Shannon.
Isaiah, known for his portrayal of Las Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson in “Winning Time” on HBO, said that he would attempt at least one “flashy pass” during the game as a nod to the Showtime Laker legend.
Although a head coach during the game, many know Shannon Sharpe today for his entertaining takes on sports and popular podcast Club Shay Shay on streaming platforms.
“We just play the way we know how to play,” Sharpe said.
Indiana Pacers all-star point guard Tyrese Haliburton also sat courtside, enjoying the contest.
Some players’ shoes even caught fire (figuratively) as the LED court tracked players’ movements in real-time to display a toasty-like appearance with every step. It was also the first time in history that a basketball game was played on an LED court.
For more events happening during NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, visit NBAevents.com.
Contact Senior Sports Writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral. For more news courtesy of the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
