Lucas Oil Stadium has been the site of many football memories, but on Friday night a round ball took over the field as the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game took place there.
There were stars on the court, both literal and figurative, as the celebrities' no-nonsense approach to a normally light-hearted game and the NBA's new LED court were the main attractions.
Don't miss the action:Everything you need to know about NBA All-Star Weekend 2024
Players included actress, singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson, several NFL players, IndyCar driver Conor Daly and a dozen other actors, influencers and musicians.
Here are seven takeaways from the game.
They put in quite a bit of effort
Unlike previous celebrity games I can remember, this year's teams competed against each other quite seriously. There wasn't much clowning on either end. No props or trick shots or anything like that.
At some point in the third quarter, the referees ruled a lane violation on a free throw attempt. This was a serious game.
Who took part in the NBA Celebrity Game?Jennifer Hudson, Metta World Peace among the stars who appeared in court
I'm not sure if that was for the best? It got a bit boring. I'm not sure if the game is about evaluating the jump shots of actors and football players.
The NBA's new LED court was pretty snazzy
The NBA debuted a new court that is essentially a giant LED screen. It was way cooler than I expected in real life. Colorful stars followed steps on the field, a fire graphic went off after basket throws, and so on.
In the fourth quarter, the various lines on the field moved throughout the game.
The field could be “activated” at various points in the game to reveal a new mini-game, such as baskets worth twice as much. We may be a year or two away from a real version of “NBA Jam.” Mark my words.
More:Play basketball on glass? A closer look at the LED court's debut at NBA All-Star Weekend
Where was everyone?
Maybe it was the weather (it snowed more than 6.5 inches in Indianapolis on Friday night), but the place couldn't have been half full. People missed it.
Metta Sandiford-Artest is unfair?
Only one team (Team Stephen A. Smith) had a former NBA player. And the Artest, formerly known as Ron, was even a head taller than the other athletes. That feels like an advantage in a basketball game.
Luckily he wasn't out there trying to bully anyone. He barely played and took it pretty easy when he was out there.
I hope Team Shannon Sharpe files a protest with the league. At least they still won the game 100:91.
It was Micah Parsons versus Tristan Jass
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is a big, scary guy in real life. No one on Team Stephen A. was particularly interested in getting in front of him, and I don't blame them.
On the other hand, Tristan Jass, a YouTuber who specializes in basketball videos, played like it was Game 7. He shot and directed every single drive down the court.
Parsons and Jass each scored about 30 points. In the end, Parsons won the game and was named MVP.
Maybe it was such a serious game because the teams were trying to combine forces?
Influencer city
Now, I don't condone this, but if someone at Lucas Oil had thrown a stone in any direction, the chances are pretty high that they would have met a social media influencer or someone aspiring to be one. It wasn't unusual to look up and see dozens in the crowd looking for a selfie.
No judgement. It was a fun evening where the gameplay was secondary, so make sure you have some good lighting, little ones.
Peyton Manning does not appear at Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis Colts great Peyton Manning was listed as an assistant coach for Sharpe's team but was nowhere to be found. No reason was given to reporters for his withdrawal. We were just told he wouldn't be there.
Surely he knew the way there?
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Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @RoryEHAppleton.
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