As the NBA 2017 All-Star weekend draws to a close and the main event of the 66th All-Star Game is on tap, let’s reflect on a few highlights and events.
With two days of the NBA 2017 All-Star Weekend complete there remains just the one big event left – the 66th All-Star Game. Over the course of the weekend our team of writers has covered the big events. If you missed any you can click the links below:
Russell Westbrook’s All-Star Media Interview: Westbrook fashions All-Star interview
All-Star Celebrity Game: Reviewing the All-Star Celebrity Game
BBVA Compass Rising Stars Game: World squad triumphs over Team USA
D-League All-Star Game: Half Time and Recap of D-League All-Star Game
Skills Competition Recap: Porzingis completes strong All-Star showing
3-Point Competition Review: Former Pelican clutch in 3-Point competition
Slam Dunk Competition Recap: Lack luster slam dunk event fails to meet expectations
Outside of these major events there has been some other smaller events or occasions:
Hall of Fame Finalists Announced:
Entering the day 21 nominees were narrowed down to a field of 14 finalists including 9-first time nominees and five multiple time nominees. Seven additional nominees failed to make the final cut.
For the 14 finalists to take the final step towards induction they require 18 votes from the 24 member Honors Committee. The finalists will learn their fate during March Madness when it reaches the Final 4, April 3rd. Hall of Fame ceremony and inductions occur in September.
First time nominees/finalists included:
- Hugh Evans – referee
- Rebecca Lobo – Connecticut player
- RollieMassimino
- Tracy McGrady – player, 2-time scoring champion
- Chris Webber – player
- Sidney Moncrief – 5-time All-Star
- Kim Mulkey – women’s coach (Baylor)
- Bill Self – coach (Kansas)
- Rudy Tomjanovich player/coach (2-time NBA Champion with Rockets as coach)
Multiple time nominees/finalists:
- Tim Hardaway – player, Olympic gold medalist
- Robert Hughes – Boys high school coach (most wins all-time)
- Muffet McGraw -women’s coach (Notre Dame)
- Bo Ryan – coach (Wisconsin)
- Wayland Baptist University – women’s school team (10-time AAU national champions)
Missing the cut:
- Muggsy Bogues
- Ben Wallace
- Kevin Johnson
- Maurice Cheeks
- Mark Price
- Lefty Driesell
- Eddie Sun.
Special honorees:
Two automatic awards will be given to four recipients:
The Curt Gowdy Media Award is a special award which this year will honor two people:
- Harvey Araton – former sports writer (New York Times)
- Craig Sager – sideline reporter
The lifetime achievement award two people:
- Donald Rowe – coach (UConn)
- Michael Goldberg – Management (executive director of coaches association) Note: recently all NBA coaches wore bow ties to games, this was in honor of Goldberg
Western and Eastern Conference Practices:
The main take away was the continuing narrative surrounding Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant who took to opposite ends of the court. This is simply one person’s perspective, but it did seem like Durant was either keeping his eye on Westbrook or getting the people around him to. This opinion is based solely on watching body language as KD repeatedly would put his head down and say something to one of the players (DeMarcus Cousins/Draymond Green) or a coach. Each time I noticed the other party would look down the court and then turn back to Durant and say something.
Conversely, Westbrook sporting extremely short, shorts (like his former teammate James Harden) hung out for the majority of the practice. Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry also interacted with Westbrook. Not once did Westbrook look to the opposite end of the court.
Again, this was simply an observation, but it sure seems like Westbrook was the more comfortable player of the two.
Craig Sager and his SagerStrong Foundation honored:
Following the 3-point competition Ernie Johnson took to center court with the three finalists to raise money for Craig Sager’s Foundation. Sager who fought a lengthy cancer battle before succumbing, left an indelible impression on alone he came in contact with.
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Johnson announced the three finalists would shoot 3-pointer for a minute with every made bucket garnering $10,000 toward SagerStrong. Then Reggie Miller came on court inviting other NBA/WNBA players (James Harden, DeMar DeRozan and Candace Parker)and celebrities to get in on the action.
Side note: DeRozan who is not known as a 3-point shooter hit 2 of his 4 shots. At the end of the minute the group had connected on 13-three point shots for $130,000.00
At this point, Ernie called upon Stephen Curry to hit a half-court shot to extend the the winnings to half a million dollars. This segment fell flat when Curry said he would need three attempts (he took more than double that without success).
Finally Shaquille O’Neal came on court with Sager’s son who he lifted to up to put the ball in the basket which resulted in the half million dollar donation.