New York:
Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan today became the first Indian to feature in a NBA All Star Celebrity Game but his debut did not turn out to be an ideal one as Little League Baseball pitcher Mo’ne Davis helped the West beat East 59-51 at the Madison Sqaure Garden.
The junior Bachchan, a goodwill ambassador of the league, hardly made his presence felt on the court as “Wedding Ringer” star Kevin Hart stole the limelight for the East by winning his fourth Most Valuable Player of the All Star Celebrity Game, albeit in a losing cause. Hart scored 15 points for his side.
The Madison Square Garden was lit up with stars from the NBA, WNBA and Hollywood two nights before the NBA All-Star Game to be played on Sunday.
But the 13-year-old teenager, who got one of the loudest cheers from the crowd when she was introduced before the game, outshone her much older opponents with a superb display.
Bachchan did not start for the East and only played in patches, making his first appearance in the second quarter. He tried a three pointed in the third quarter but failed to find the basket.
The West team was coached by ESPN personality Mike Golic and American film maker and a die-hard New York Knicks fan Spike Lee of the New York Knicks, while the East side was coached by Carmelo Anthony along with ESPN personality Mike Greenberg.
Other celebrities who participated in the game were actors Anthony Anderson, Common, Nick Cannon, Sarah Silverman, Ansel Elgort, Chadwick Boseman, Jesse Williams, Michael Rapaport and singer Win Butler of Arcade Fire.
NBA Hall of Famer and New York native Chris Mullin also played, as did former New York Knicks’ star Allan Houston. Current WNBA players Skylar Diggins, Tina Charles and Shoni Schimmel also featured in the game.
Schimmel, who was the MVP of the WNBA All-Star game last year, was the leading scorer of the match with 17 points, while Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera and Diggins finished with 13 points each for the West.
