In this Feb. 4, 2015, file photo, Golden State Warriors executive Jerry West, left, presents All-Star jerseys to guards Klay Thompson (11) and Stephen Curry (30) before the team’s NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Oakland, California. The Warriors shooting tandem of Thompson and Curry will own the All-Star spotlight in New York this weekend, both competing in the 3-point contest Saturday night in Brooklyn and then playing for the Western Conference in the All-Star game Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. AP
NEW YORK, United States — It is NBA All-Star weekend, but it seems as if all the stars in the celeb galaxy were taking part in the swanky dinners, posh parties and concerts before Sunday’s big game.
Almost every pocket of New York City, it seemed, offered some kind of starry celebration. Chicago Bulls’ star Jimmy Butler was among those taking in the celeb scenery.
“My brothers are with me so I try to spend a lot of time with them. They get to experience my first All-Star with me,” he said before rattling off some of the weekend’s highlights, including an early morning Prince concert in celebration of the Michael Jordan brand’s 30th anniversary: “It was amazing. Come on, it’s Prince, and I had a blast.”
Butler spoke at one of the biggest lures — a West Village luxury townhouse commandeered by Beats by Dre. The headphone and music company set up shop over several floors of the home in celebration of All-Star weekend and Fashion Week so boldface names could get massages, tattoos, food, drinks and, of course, their namesake audio equipment.
Kenan Thompson from “Saturday Night Live” walked around with his infant daughter, while model Joan Smalls chatted on a couch; Thompson’s “SNL” counterpart Jay Pharaoh came through later, while others who stopped by Saturday afternoon included Questlove, rapper Mase, and model Coca Rocha. All-Star game players like Butler were gifted with a special Fendi-designed leather headphone set.
Butler was still in awe of the weekend, including his All-Star designation.
“It means the most; it’s really surreal because I’m from a small town, never thought I’d be here. I’ve met so many people, so many good people, including here,” Butler said.
“It’s crazy to be like on the same lineup as Lebron (James) and Melo (Carmelo Anthony) and all of those guys. … They’re all good dudes; they all just want to win.”
Official All-Star events, like Friday’s celebrity game and Saturday’s skills competition, attracted Rihanna, Kevin Hart, Mo’ne Davis and Floyd Mayweather, but other ancillary events had star power, too.
On Friday night, Nas and Drake gave a concert that featured Kanye West, while James held court at a dinner thrown at the Italian eatery Carbone by Beats. Farther away, All-Star John Wall had his own dinner at STK with Luc Belaire, where he mingled with guests, including rapper Pusha T and actress Keke Palmer.
On Saturday afternoon, recently retired Derek Jeter gathered his former Yankee teammate C.C. Sabathia, quarterback Russell Wilson, and others to discuss the launch of his after-career venture, the Players Tribune, a digital media company designed to give athletes a platform to tell their own stories; a late night launch party followed with a performance from rapper Common.
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