2013 NBA All Star weekend is approaching – make sure you know the top facts about the starting line-up!

NBA All star weekend starts this Friday and is a time for NBA fans and non-fans to see basketball players in a different light and enjoy some old school basketball.  In my opinion, the NBA is the only professional sports organization that has figured out how to incorporate family fun and professional sports together for an entertaining weekend!  There is a celebrity basketball game, a skills challenge, a slam-dunk contest, that has you saying, “how’d he do that?” and then caps off with a friendly game of the best basketball players in the league having fun.  The game looks like it should be being played on a schoolyard in Brooklyn.  For full schedule of events and when you should set your DVR, click here - All Star Event Schedule

The All Star game is made up of the best players from the East teams vs. the best players from the West teams. So now let’s learn about the starting line-up for the game! 

A Basketball Fact & Fun Fact about the 2013 All Star starting line-up:

East Starters: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, Dwayne Wade, Brooke Lopez (who replaces injured Rajon Rondo)

LeBron James –

Basketball Fact: He ranks #2 in field goals per game. 

Fun Fact: engaged to his long-time girlfriend Savanna Brinson, who is the mother of their two children (LeBron Jr., 8 and Bryce, 5)

Carmelo Anthony -

Basketball Fact: He is ranked the #1 total leading scorer in the NBA.

Fun Fact: Married to Lala Anthony, who is a TV personality & radio host.  They have a 5 year old son, Kiyan together.

Kevin Garnett -

Basketball Fact: Has been in the NBA for 17 seasons and has been selected for the All Star game 13 times.

Fun Fact: Kevin is the man behind “Anything is Possible” which he emotionally screamed after he helped the Boston Celtics win the NBA Championship in 2008.

Dwayne Wade –

Basketball Fact: Known as an all around player who is reliable both on defense & offense. In his career, he has been to the playoffs every season except one.

Fun Fact: Just came out with a book about fatherhood, titled “A Father First: My life became bigger than basketball.” He opens up about being a single dad with sole custody of his two sons (Zaire, 13 and Zion, 5).

Brooke Lopez –

Basketball Fact: 1^st time selected and starter to the All Star Roster.  He is on pace to break his personal best for points scored per season (1,673 in 2010 – 2011 season).

Fun Fact: He has an identical twin brother who plays for the New Orleans Hornets, Robin Lopez.  Brooke & Robin played their college basketball together at Stanford.

West Starters: Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard (might not play due to injury), Blake Griffin, Kobe Bryant & Chris Paul

Kevin Durant –

Basketball Fact: Ranked #1 in points per game with an average of 29.1 points.

Fun Fact: He wears No. 35 to honor his childhood AAU coach, Charles Craig, who died when he was 35 years young.

Dwight Howard –

Basketball Fact: Ranks #1 in rebounds per game (11.8).

Fun Fact: In 2008, Dwight wore a Superman cape during the dunk contest and won the overall contest.

Blake Griffin –

Basketball Fact: Blake leads his team, the Los Angeles Clippers in points per game (18.5) and rebounds (8.5).

Fun Fact: Blake is known for his dunk skills and now is a spokesmen for Kia, thanks to his dunk over a Kia car in the dunk contest in 2011

Kobe Bryant –

Basketball Fact: Arguably the most powerful player on the court, Kobe is ranked #1 in minutes played and field goals made.

Fun Fact: Kobe is married to Vanessa Laine.  The coupe have two girls, Natalia, 10 and Gianna, 6.

Chris Paul –

Basketball Fact: Chris leads his team, the Los Angeles Clippers in assists (9.5) and steals (2.5). 

Fun Fact: Chris married his college sweetheart, Jada Crawley.  The couple have two kids together, Chris Paul II, 3 and Camryn, 6 months old.

Now that you know the players – enjoy the All Star weekend.  It is guaranteed to be a lot of smiles and laughs!