Kobe Bryant's Legacy Honored At The NBA All-Star Game - Highlights HERE!

Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game was truly one for the history books!

Team LeBron came back late to beat Team Giannis 157-155 on the court in what turned out to be a thrilling game, even by the league’s sky-high All-Star standards! But the real story here — and almost all the memorable moments from the entire weekend — primarily centered itself on the impressive memorials and moments dedicated to Kobe Bryant.

Everybody on LeBron James‘ team wore the number 2 (in honor of Gianna Bryant), while everybody on the opposing side rocked the familiar 24 for Kobe. And there was plenty of star power available yesterday evening for the big game, too!

Considering the whole thing was held in Chicago, native celebs from Common and Dwyane Wade to Michael Jordan, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, and even Barack Obama himself made appearances at various points. So ICYMI, here are all the most important and memorable moments from last night’s incredible All-Star affair!

Contents [hide]

1 Jennifer Hudson
2 Common
3 Shaquille O’Neal
4 Kimye
5 The MVP Award

Jennifer Hudson

Speaking of the Chicago native Hudson, she delivered an incredible tribute to Kobe in the minutes leading up to the game, as you can see (below):

.@IAMJHUD delivers a powerful pregame performance to honor Kobe #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/XwdSes5w97

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2020

Seriously… not a dry eye in the house anywhere after that.

Wow!!!

Common

The NBA called on Common to do a few different things before the game’s tip-off, and his unique presence and Windy City ties gave the event a serious feeling of importance.

For one, he opened up the evening with his own spoken-word love letter to the Illinois city he calls home:

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1229299121787412480

And later in the pre-game festivities, Common was joined by Jordan, Obama, and a large group other high-profile Chicago celebs and local icons to set the stage for the night and get things warmed up:

Stand up, Chicago! ????

The 2020 #NBAAllStar Game is tipped off by Chicago legends @BarackObama, Michael Jordan, @KekePalmer, @common, @chancetherapper, @HEBRUBRANTLEY, @iJesseWilliams, @TheRealBuddyGuy, @DwyaneWade, @Candace_Parker & @IsiahThomas. pic.twitter.com/VyrI6Ajg2S

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2020

Loves it!

Anyone watching from the Windy City must’ve been so proud!!!

Shaquille O’Neal

Kobe’s longtime former teammate, in attendance at All-Star Weekend working on air for TNT, took more time to reflect on the late star’s legacy at one point on Sunday.

Speaking to E! News, the legendary big man opened up about his favorite Mamba memories, recalling how sweet Kobe always was with the O’Neal children:

“Just him taking the time to talk to my kids. And because of that, unfortunately for me, even though I was a great player, I’m not my kids’ favorite player… For [Kobe] to take the time to text my babies, check up on them… It was special. I reciprocated the same energy when I saw his kids. I always walked up to them and said, ‘Hey beautiful ladies. My name is uncle Shaq.'”

Awww! That’s so cute!

BTW, “Uncle Shaq” had another great moment at All-Star Weekend, too.

During the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night, while live on air with the TNT crew, the former basketball superstar pulled a random baby out of the crowd and tried to interview him on national television:

Uncle @SHAQ pulled a baby out of the crowd for an interview ???? pic.twitter.com/Wecqmkm80b

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

Sorry, Uncle Shaq, but that kid seriously gave you the cold shoulder!

LOLz!!!!

Kimye

The action didn’t just take place on the court come game time, though as the A-listers were out in full force to watch the whole thing go down, too!

As you can see (below), Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West had an epic date night sitting courtside for the memorable evening:

Kim giving Kanye a kiss on the jumbotron at tonight’s game in Chicago???? #NBAAllStarGame pic.twitter.com/D57c87CFUv

— Photos Of KimYe (@PhotosOfKanye) February 17, 2020

KimYe at the #NBAAllStarGame tonight in Chicago (2.16.20)♥️ pic.twitter.com/76ZFwIzeBs

— KimYe Media (@photosofkimye) February 17, 2020

Too cute!

And there you go, another A-list Chicago native in Yeezy… those Chi-town ties run deep, y’all!!!

The MVP Award

This one was a particularly good move by the NBA.

At the very start of All-Star Weekend, league commissioner Adam Silver announced the All-Star Game MVP Award would be re-named in Kobe’s honor:

“There was no player who epitomized All-Star more than Kobe Bryant.”

Commissioner Silver on why the league changed the name of the All-Star MVP Award to the Kobe Bryant MVP Award. pic.twitter.com/SuAGeF7HSi

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 16, 2020

Wonderful!

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard won the inaugural Kobe Bryant MVP Award at the end of the evening, and spoke about what it meant, too:

“This one is for him.”

Kawhi after receiving the first-ever Kobe Bryant MVP Award. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/7TafEH44mD

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2020