NBA player says Chris Brown would score 50 points in NBA All-Star celeb game
Singer-dancer Chris Brown likely would have dominated the 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game had he played, according to NBA star Paul George and rapper and actor Vince Staples.
Brown wanted to participate in the Feb. 16 celeb game in Indianapolis, but said he didn’t appear because he was nixed from the event. Brown posted to social media that he had been invited and confirmed to participate in January but the NBA cut him citing sponsor pushback.
But on George’s podcast “Podcast P,” he, Staples and co-hosts said Brown is a natural at the game.
'Talent in every bucket'
Co-host Jackie named Brown as someone who needs to play in the celebrity game.
Staples said he thought Brown was overqualified.
“Chris Brown don’t count. You can’t be throwing Chris Brown in stuff. He’s not a regular man. He’s got back flips and all kinds of things,” Staples said. “He don’t get to do stuff with regular people. He’s got to play with y’all.”
George, who was on the Indiana Pacers team from 2010 to 2017, and played in the Feb. 18 All-Star Game, agreed that Brown’s talents extend beyond singing, dancing and acting to visual artistry and hooping.
“I’ve never seen someone who had just talent in every bucket,” George said.
“I think if Chris played in a celebrity game, he would for sure get MVP and I think he would give for sure about a good 20 something,” Long said.
That was low for George's taste.
“He can drop 50, do the anthem, do the halftime show. Everything. Draw the jerseys,” George said.
Chris Brown says he was dropped from All-Star Game
The podcast episode was released Feb. 12 — nearly a week before Brown said he had been disinvited from the NBA celebrity game, which took place at Lucas Oil Stadium.
On Feb 17, Brown had posted to social media about being invited then dropped from the game.
Chris Brown axed?: Singer wanted to play in the All-Star Celebrity Game. Why he says he didn't
“I was asked by the NBA to play in the all star game this Year! Only for them to call later and say they couldn’t do IT because of their sponsors like RUFFLES,” the post said. “At this point I’m sick of people bothering me and I’m tired of living in the f—- past.”
In 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault in a highly-publicized domestic violence case involving singer Rihanna. In 2017, his ex-girlfriend, actress Karrueche Tran, was granted a five-year restraining order against him after she shared text messages and voicemails from Brown threatening her.
Brown shared a clip from the “Podcast P” episode praising his skills on the court as part of an Instagram story on Sunday, Feb 18.
All-Star sponsor says they're not involved in player selection
He’s still not over the alleged slight. In early morning eastern time Feb. 19, he posted a Ruffles brand statement that it was not involved in the process of selecting celebrities for the game, along with a deluge of responses from his fans angry about him being left out of the game and calling for a boycott of the product. Ruffles turned off commenting.
While Ruffles on Saturday said the brand was not involved in the selection of the players, the NBA has yet to respond with comments on whether Brown was part of the celebrity lineup and if he was disinvited.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected] or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NBA player: Chris Brown would score 50 points in All-Star celeb game
