All-Star weekend, a 21st-time event for LeBron James
INDIANAPOLIS — Welcome back, LeBron James. Welcome for the first time, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Brunson, and Tyrese Maxey.
All-Star weekend in Indianapolis is here, with some familiar names, some new faces, a nod to nostalgia, and a bit of unwinding for everyone before the stretch run of the season. Most of the 54 players who will be part of the weekend’s on-court festivities — and quite a few more are coming as well — began arriving on Thursday.
The rundown of events, and there are dozens, officially opened Thursday night with a tip-off party. Indiana AllStar guard Tyrese Haliburton showed up in the ultimate Hoosier State style, in an IndyCar — the state may be hoops-crazy, but auto racing is pretty big here as well — driven by Indiana native Conor Daly, a two-time top-10 finisher at the Indianapolis 500.
Haliburton shared the stage with another legend of basketball in Indiana — Larry Bird, who handed Haliburton a ceremonial golden basketball.
“The fans are excited. I’m excited,” Haliburton said. “It’s a chance to showcase our city.”
For James, it’s his 21st All-Star weekend in his 21 NBA seasons. He didn’t make the All-Star Game as a rookie; he made the weekend as part of the rookie game. He’s made every All-Star Game since now the first player to be picked for the showcase in 20 different seasons. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a 19-time selection.
“I’m humbled and very blessed, obviously,” James said. “I don’t take it for granted, being an All-Star. The fact that I still get to represent this franchise, one, my family — which is most importantly, my family name on the back of the jersey, that’s very important to me when it comes to acknowledgment and accolades and things of that nature — and also the fans, who’ve been down with me for the last two decades-plus.”