Bold headline: Giannis’ Team stages a dramatic comeback to topple Team Anthony 65–58 in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
Rome Flynn earns back-to-back MVP honors as Team Giannis surges past Team Anthony at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, held Friday night at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
By Lauren Jones
Team Giannis Antetokounmpo mounted a second-half surge to edge Team Anthony Anderson 65–58, delivering a thrilling finish on the celebrity showcase night.
Among the festivities, Victor Wembanyama, one of this year’s rising stars, helped with the ceremonial tip-off.
The Kia Forum— formerly known as the Great Western Forum—has a storied Lakers legacy from the Showtime era (1967–1999), when icons like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy defined a basketball era. On this occasion, a fresh constellation of stars commanded the floor.
The event drew a diverse lineup: NFL standouts with L.A. roots Keenan Allen and Amon-Ra St. Brown, former NBA players, musicians, actors, and social media influencers.
A roster of A-listers graced the sidelines, including actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, rapper GloRilla, and ESPN insider Shams Charania, among many others.
Coaching the celebrity squad alongside the Antetokounmpo brothers was four-time World Series champion Mookie Betts of the Dodgers.
Inglewood, CA, February 13—Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs delivered the ceremonial tip to kick off the game.
Team Giannis’ comeback
The format kept the focus on fun and entertainment. Between the first and second quarters, a die-roll determined the value of the four-point line. Team Giannis nudged the run by increasing its scoring arc to seven points, while Team Anthony stood at eight. A first-quarter fan spotlight highlighted L.A. natives Mustard and Key, whose baskets carried extra value.
Team Anthony started strong, taking a 16–14 lead after the opening period and pushing the halftime gap to 34–26.
Anthony’s side was led by Keenan Allen’s energetic drives, while Adrien Nunez— a social media standout— chipped in 10 points to help Team Anthony head into the locker room with momentum.
The tide turned after halftime as Team Giannis took control of the proceedings.
A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth quarter’s “double-time” window—a two-minute stretch where teams could double the value of their baskets—shifting the game decisively in Giannis’ favor.
With the score tied 55–55 and four minutes left, Team Anthony attempted to capitalize on its bonus but couldn’t create separation. Team Giannis seized the opportunity, pulling ahead and never looking back.
Ahead of the second half, Jeremy Lin had predicted confidently that teammate Rome Flynn would repeat as MVP. His forecast proved right.
Flynn finished with 17 points, delivering key shots including back-to-back threes late in the game to seal the win.
Flynn’s MVP performance came in a game that also showcased Tacko Fall’s towering presence. The 7-foot-6 center posted 20 points, 21 rebounds, and five blocks, anchoring the Giannis squad with relentless rim protection and second-chance opportunities that fueled the comeback.
Beyond the court, the event highlighted Los Angeles’ cultural reach, with courtside entertainment, a halftime set by K-pop group CORTIS, and performances by GloRilla and other celebrities energizing the venue.
The Celebrity Game once again proved a vibrant blend of sport and spectacle, pairing athletic highlight-reel moments with showmanship that resonates far beyond the hardwood.
