CHANCE THE RAPPER SET TO PERFORM
Chance the Rapper will be tipping off the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in a musical fashion as he headlines the NBA on TNT American Express Road Show on Thursday. The show takes place at Pier 48 — not far away from where the Golden State Warriors will be hosting the NBA All-Star Game itself on Feb. 16 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The event will also feature TNT’s Inside the NBA studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal, who will be providing live pre-game/halftime/postgame coverage of the Oklahoma City Thunder/Minnesota Timberwolves game that same night. There will also be other basketball-related attractions. – Jim Harrington
NBA CROSSOVER TAKES OVER MOSCONE CENTER
Fans will have their chance to explore immersive basketball activities, take photos with mascots and potentially meet and greet players and coaches during the signature fan event of All-Star weekend. NBA Crossover runs from Friday through Sunday at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
DAMIAN LILLARD GIVES BACK TO EAST BAY SCHOOLS
NBA All-Star Damian Lillard is partnering with Portland State to create a pipeline between the university and nine East Bay schools. The PSU Damian Lillard Scholarship will award recipients $25,000 per year to reduce out-of-state tuition. Lillard, who starred at Oakland High, spent a decade with the Portland Trail Blazers before moving on to the Milwaukee Bucks. According to a news release, 15 of the 27 Damian Lillard Scholar-eligible students who applied to Portland State have been admitted. The six applicants from Oakland High will join Lillard on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the high school for a scholarship announcement.
FORMER WARRIORS CHAMP DONATES BOOKS
Clifford Ray, the starting center on the Warriors’ 1975 championship team, is visiting five schools in the Oakland area this week as a lead-up to All-Star weekend in the Bay Area. As part of “Clifford’s BIG 2025 NBA All-Star Book Drive,” he plans to meet with students and share his story and children’s book, “Big Clifford Ray Saves the Day.” Thanks to various donations, students are receiving free copies of the book that describes the “true and unusual story” of Ray “saving the dolphin Doctor Spock in 1978 while playing for the Warriors.”
CURRY’S GROUP LIGHTS UP SPLASH
Stephen Curry’s company Thirty Ink will take over Thrive City’s new sports bar, Splash, outside Chase Center, on Saturday and Sunday. The activation will include a legacy museum devoted to Curry, as well as live podcasts on Saturday and “exclusive customized merch” both days before a watch party for All-Star Saturday Night and the All-Star Game.
CHASE HOSTS CONCERTS, PANELS
Chase is putting up shop for two days at City View Metreon for a registration-only festival that is expected to feature discussions with Warriors player Moses Moody and WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson on Friday, and a panel from the WNBA’s new Golden State Valkyries on Saturday. Players Kayla Thornton and Kate Martin, as well as coach Natalie Nakase are scheduled to talk hoops. Musical guests include Saweetie, thuy, and LaRussell.
GOOGLE GETS INTO HOOPS
The Google Pixel House at 667 Howard St. in San Francisco will host a mini basketball tournament on Friday night, then a dunk showcase on Saturday afternoon and a concert performance from rapper 2 Chainz set for 8 p.m. Saturday night. Google warned that space is limited for the 2 Chainz, so fans may want to arrive early.