NBA All-Star Celebrity Game returns with Simu Liu and debuts from GloRilla and Shams

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Forum features Simu Liu returning and debuts from GloRilla and Shams, with ESPN offering a 30-minute digital pregame called Hoop Streams.

The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is scheduled for Friday at the Forum and brings together entertainers, athletes and media personalities. Simu Liu returns after a memorable 2023 appearance, and the lineup includes debuts from GloRilla and Shams. The event is framed as a playful exhibition that emphasizes fun moments more than competitive stakes. ESPN will carry a digital pregame called Hoop Streams that begins about 30 minutes before tipoff. Key details: - Simu Liu is listed as a returning participant in the Celebrity Game. - GloRilla and Shams are noted as making their debut appearances in this year's lineup. - ESPN's Hoop Streams digital pregame starts roughly 30 minutes before the game and will stream on the ESPN app, YouTube and Facebook. - Commentary on the broadcast includes Mark Jones with analysts Richard Jefferson and Monica McNutt. - One team is coached by Anthony Anderson with trainers Lethal Shooter and Chris Brickley; the other is coached by Giannis, Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo alongside Mookie Betts. - Halftime entertainment will include an abridged set by K-pop group Cortis. Summary: The Celebrity Game is presented as a light, irreverent component of All-Star Weekend that prioritizes entertainment over box-score concerns. The exhibition tips off Friday at the Forum with a digital pregame on ESPN's platforms, and the All-Star Game follows on Sunday, where Giannis Antetokounmpo is reported as sidelined with a calf strain.