For the past few days, my Instagram feed has been inundated with NBA All-Star Weekend content. This probably isn't the case for everyone. These are not ads that I am seeing. I follow ESPN, SportsCenter, Bleacher Report, NBA, NBAonTNT, First Take, BR Kicks, Overtime, House of Highlights and a lot of my favorite NBA players. So, it makes sense that with the new Instagram algorithm I constantly miss my friends' posts because they are buried under score updates, player outfits and highlights.
If you are not planning on taking in the NBA All-Star weekend festivities, here is everything you need to know.
The game tonight at 8 p.m. will follow the format that was newly implemented last year after the tragic passing of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. The teams will play three 12 minute quarters where the score resets to zero at the beginning of each quarter. There will be a winning team of each quarter. Keep this mind for later, I will get to why this is important. The total score for each quarter will be tallied up and used as a baseline for the fourth quarter. Whichever team is ahead at the end of the third quarter will have to score 24 points to win the game. The team that is behind will have to reach the other team's score plus 24 points in order to win. There is no game clock in the final quarter.
For example, if Team LeBron is ahead 110-95 at the end of the third quarter, they will have to reach 134 to win. If Team Durant reaches 134 first, they will take home the All-Star Game trophy.
Courtesy of NBA.com.
The 24 is important because it was Kobe Bryant's jersey number and it instills a sense of competition. Before changing the format, the NBA All-Star Game was just a way for players to show off shooting from 5 feet behind the arc, dunking on a fast break and passing behind-the-back or with no look. They get to play with old teammates, new teammates and just the overall best players in the league. But what they were not doing was playing defense. None whatsoever. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
The new format fixes this problem. The competition is also heightened because the winning team of each quarter will have $150,000 donated to a charitable organization that works with HBCUs. Team LeBron will contribute to the Thurgoood Marshall College Fund. Team Durant is playing for the United Negro College Fund. The final winning team will earn an additional $300,000 for their organization.
Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, the NBA has been at the forefront of Covid relief and the social justice reform. The NBA Players Association vocalized their desire and need to support the lives of black Americans that are being affected in so many different ways by the pandemic. Tonight, they play for black students everywhere. They want to allow students to stay in school by providing financial assistance to these organizations. They also want to encourage support and attendance at HBCUs around the country.
The court tonight is designed to represent each HBCU in the U.S. HBCU alumni collaborated to create the vibrant masterpiece. Performances before, during and after the game will also be put on by choirs, step groups and marching bands from HBCUs. Merchandise will include the NBA All-Star and HBCU co-branded logos.
Courtesy of NBA.com.
In total, the NBA and its sponsors are donating $3 million to HBCUs tonight. This does not include the profits from the merchandise that will be donated as well.
I hope all of you that keep up with my blog will tune in tonight to recognize the legacy that Kobe Bryant left behind and support HBCUs alongside the NBA. While the night is sure to achieve a record-breaking monetary contribution, the visibility for HBCUs will be even more important. The NBA All-Star Weekend has been famously known to attract the most popular and most wealthy celebrities each year. Instead of focusing on that star power this year, the NBA is redirecting the attention to those who are struggling through this pandemic. I hope the usual court-side celebrities will do the same.
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