NBA All-Star Weekend is most synonymous with marquee events like the Slam-Dunk Contest and star-studded Sunday night game, and the throngs of celebrities who come into town to sit courtside in their best ‘fits.
Outside of the entertainment and parties, though, the NBA made a goal to connect with the next generation of basketball players in Chicago, a city considered a basketball mecca. Through events such as Jr. NBA Day, the Gatorade Jr. NBA All-Star Invitational, the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge, 3-on-3 Tournament and Respect for the Game forums, Chicago youth were given the opportunity to meet, play against and learn from some of the best athletes in the world.
At Jr. NBA Day on Friday, Feb. 14, one of the many league events that took place at Navy Pier during All-Star Weekend 2020, more than 1,000 Chicago Public School students from around Chicago were dropped off for a day centered around developing their skills on and off the court. Once checked-in, each youth was put into groups and taken to stations where a different skill was taught by a trainer who also was accompanied by either an NBA player, WNBA player or NBA legend.
Rudy Gobert, an NBA All-Star player from the Utah Jazz, rebounded for the kids during his session. Khris Middleton, an NBA All-Star player from the Milwaukee Bucks, led a round of “knockout,” a game that sharpens a player’s skills on the free-throw line. Cheyenne Parker of the Chicago Sky, Coby White of the Chicago Bulls, and NBA legend Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues also were in attendance.