Pittstop’s NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 Recap — Three Winners: Chicago, Aaron Gordon* and Kobe
The Windy City was host to the 69th NBA All-Star Weekend and it made me proud to be a Chicagoan! Pittstop was there for many of the festivities with my family and friends, and we had an amazing time! The city never looked better and it definitely earned its reputation for cold weather! (I have never seen so many Canada Goose jackets on the streets of Chicago!) Our new Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, and Chicago’s own, former President Barack Obama, were visible throughout the weekend to promote our great city and participate in the community-based events the NBA and its players hosted or sponsored in some of Chicago’s neediest communities. The city did not disappoint!
After a terrific Rising Stars game on Friday night, anticipation was building for All-Star Saturday night Skills Challenge, 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contests. And then, the slam dunk heard around the world scores a 47?! WHAT?!?! The Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon was ROBBED! The Miami Heat’s Derrick Jones Jr. put on an electrifying show himself, and his Jordan-esque final dunk was amazing. But, then, Gordon brought out Tacko Fall, a 7’5” NBA player from the Boston Celtics. Pittstop figured it was over. Gordon proceeded to dunk over Fall, but there was a question of whether he fully cleared Fall. To the thousands in the stadium, it did not matter because Gordon’s vertical skills were undeniable, grabbing the ball from the back of Fall’s head with a scissor dunk over his head. What were the judges’ thinking — specifically, guest judges, actor, Chadwick Boseman, and NBA greats, Scottie Pippen and Dwayne Wade, — who each gave Gordon a score of 9, awarding the contest to Jones, Jr.?? In the minds of most basketball fans, especially those in the United Center, Gordon won.*
And, as promised, this NBA All-Star weekend was dedicated in loving memory to NBA Basketball greats, Kobe Bryant and former NBA Commissioner David Stern. There were tributes to the two legends at all of the sponsored events, from the remarks of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBA great Earvin “Magic” Johnson, to the performances of musicians, Jennifer Hudson, Common, Chance the Rapper, and others. All of the tributes were deeply moving and incredibly sad. Kobe’s untimely death, along with the death of his young daughter and the other seven souls in that helicopter crash, clearly cast a pall over the weekend’s celebrations. The sadness was even visible on the players’ faces on Sunday during the NBA All-Star game and the opening tributes to Kobe. His presence was felt throughout the game and certainly during the awarding of the newly named Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP Award to Kawhi Leonard.
This was by far my favorite All Star weekend, not just because it was in my hometown, but this weekend really made me realize how sports can bring people together no matter their differences. Those differences are less apparent when we’re all cheering on our sports heroes, and also mourning the loss of sports legends who have, in some way, impacted our lives. The NBA’s special and memorable tributes really made the weekend something I will always remember.The numbers 2 and 24, worn by the All-Stars, will be forever missed, but never forgotten.
