NBA All-Star Weekend: Celebs and Rising Stars Kick Off Friday Night's Events

All-Star Weekend in NYC gets in full swing tonight as everyone's favourite event kicks off the fesitivites tonight. Of course, I'm talking about the Celebrity Game.

This year's Celeb game is happening at MSG (the first time it's being played in an NBA arena), and features a wide assortment of famous people from all mediums. Of course Kevin Hart and Nick Cannon are in the event once again as glorified hype men. This year, they're joined by sports media darling of the year Mo'Ne Davis of Little League World Series fame, as well as another man who has baseball to thank for his breakout, Chadwick Boseman. Boseman first starred in 42 as Jackie Robinson and then put on a fantastic performance in Get On Up as the late, great James Brown.

Other notables in the event include Arcade Fire's Win Butler, former NBA'ers Chris Mullin and Allan Houston, as well as Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. Pera has challenged both Tony Allen and Michael Jordan to a game of one on one before, and will certainly be gunning for that MVP trophy, being as competitive (cocky?) as he is.

Following the Celebrity game is the Rising Stars Challenge, formally known as the Rookie-Sophomore game which is once again taking on a new format this season. This year, the game is a World vs. USA affair, adopting a Nike Hoops Summit feel, which could provide an extra competitive edge.

As Canadians all our eyes will be on how Andrew Wiggins fairs tonight in his first showcase event with the eyes of the world on him. The wing players for the USA aren't exactly strong defenders in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wiggy's Wolves teammate Shabazz Muhammad so look for Wiggins to get in 6 God mode and get a lot of buckets tonight.

Everything gets underway at 7 PM in New York tonight, so if you're reading this after that, it's too late.

Enjoy tonight's games and discuss away!