The ghosts still live in the rafters of the Forum.
You can feel them the moment you walk through those circular corridors in Inglewood — the echoes of Magic’s no-look passes, Kareem’s skyhook carving air like a sculptor’s blade, the bass line of the Showtime Lakers pulsing through a building that once felt like the center of the basketball universe.
With most of NBA All-Star Weekend migrating down the street to the glistening new Intuit Dome, it felt right — almost rebellious — that the Ruffles Celebrity All-Star Game planted its flag back inside the old cathedral: the Fabulous Forum.
Before a single ball was tipped, the afternoon delivered its most authentic moment. Former NBA forward Richard Jefferson strolled his kids through the legendary Forum Club entrance, where Lakers icon James Worthy greeted them like a velvet-rope guardian of basketball history. Worthy playfully demanded a password before letting them in, smiling as he reminisced about the good old days. It was nostalgia with a wink — a reminder that this building once demanded excellence.
Then the game started.
And excellence quietly slipped out the side door.
Let’s call it what it was: a glorified YMCA pick-up game with better lighting and worse defense. I’ve had runs at 24-hour fitness with more urgency and effort. The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game has always been an exhibition, but this version often felt like an influencer’s content shoot masquerading as competition.
There were more air balls than baskets made. Strange gimmicky bonuses floated through each quarter like carnival prizes. NBA Mascots playing defense? Eight-point shots? Sure. Why not. When Chinese actor-singer Dylan Wang received the loudest ovation of all during the roster introductions — you understood immediately what Friday afternoon was really about: spectacle over substance.
There were moments worth the price of admission. Watching Victor Wembanyama conduct the opening tip while looking up — actually looking up — at 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall was a visual glitch in the basketball matrix. Since when does Wemby crane his neck for anyone? Fall, predictably, dominated stretches of the game, turning the paint into his personal backyard court. It would be the equivalent of a normal person lowering the hoop down to 6 feet and playing against kindergartners.
The surprise performance of the afternoon came from former Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, who flashed real athleticism, slicing through the lane with purpose. Finishing at the rim, draining jump shots and blocking shots. Allen seemed to be the only player on the court who upped the competitive level of play.
“I had a lot of fun,” Allen said afterward. “I wish we could have gotten the W.”
Fun, yes. Competitive, no.
And that’s where the NBA has to take a long look in the mirror.
The highlight of the day wasn’t a crossover or a dunk. It was halftime. K-pop sensation CORTIS turned the Forum into a glowing constellation. Thousands of fans, many clearly there just for them, lifted their phones as the arena lights dimmed into a full-blown Showtime fever dream. Built-in seat lighting shimmered. Rappers including 2 Chainz and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo bounced along courtside. For a moment, it felt like the old Lakers glory days — lights down, spotlight bright, the building alive.
That’s the irony. The halftime performance felt like it had more star power than the game itself.
Allen didn’t mince words about sharing the floor with former NBA pros like Fall and Jeremy Lin, who casually drained an eight-point shot that sealed the 65-58 victory for Team Giannis.
“That’s a bunch of BS,” Allen said. “Jeremy Lin hit an eight-point shot, Tacko Fall went off … like what are we supposed to do? Most of us are normal people. We have to have big faces out here. Keep the celebrities coming.”
He’s right.
If this is going to be the NBA’s Hollywood showcase, then go all in. Load it with real A-listers who can actually hoop. Imagine Adam Sandler tossing lobs to Timothée Chalamet. Picture Justin Bieber crossing up Zac Efron. George Clooney plays pickup games before the Oscars — invite him. Call Ben Affleck. Call Matt Damon. Rapper J. Cole has real bounce. Give fans something that feels like a cultural event, not a mildly organized open gym session.
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Team Giannis rallied to defeat Anthony Anderson’s squad, with Rome Flynn scoring 17 points and taking home MVP honors for the second straight year — though if we’re being honest, Fall’s impact told a different story. But that’s the thing about this game. It’s not really about the box score.
It’s about the vibe.
Friday afternoon at the Kia Forum had it — history, music, flashes of athletic brilliance. What it lacked was edge. Urgency. True star wattage on the hardwood.
In a city that understands spectacle better than anywhere on Earth, the Celebrity All-Star Game feels like it’s flirting with greatness. The building deserves more. The game of basketball deserves more. The fans deserve more.
The ghosts in the rafters are still watching.
