NBA to honor NBA 75th Anniversary Team at halftime of 2022 NBA All-Star Game in special ceremony
Get ready for NBA All-Star 2022 from Feb. 18-20 in Cleveland.
NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) will honor the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in a special halftime ceremony during the 71st NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. Eight-time GRAMMY Award winner and Cleveland Cavaliers part-owner Usher, five-time Academy Award and two-time Emmy Award winner Spike Lee, GRAMMY and Emmy Award winner Tiffany Haddish and Emmy Award nominee Anthony Anderson will serve as narrators and take fans on a journey through the league’s first 75 years, recognizing the players who have shined the brightest and highlighting the themes that have served as the cornerstones of the NBA since its founding: competition, culture and inclusion. Nine-time GRAMMY Award winners Earth, Wind & Fire will perform their hit “Shining Star” as the halftime finale. Members of the NBA 75th Anniversary team from nearly every decade of the league’s existence will be in the arena for the ceremony honoring the NBA’s diamond anniversary. The game will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and in 215 countries and territories.
Prior to tip-off, Billboard Award-winning artist and Cleveland native Machine Gun Kelly and renowned producer and award-winning DJ D-Nice will introduce the 2022 NBA All-Stars. Four-time GRAMMY Award winner Macy Gray, who is from Ohio, will sing the U.S. national anthem and Toronto native, two-time Juno Award-nominated and platinum-selling artist Ryland James will sing the Canadian national anthem.
@djkhaled introduces his star-studded lineup of friends headlining #StateFarmSaturday performances on TNT! #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/inPalvMDRK
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 16, 2022
On Saturday, Feb. 19, GRAMMY Award-winning music mogul DJ Khaled will be joined by a star-studded lineup of friends including nine-time GRAMMY Award winner and two-time Academy Award winner Mary J. Blige, three-time GRAMMY Award winner Ludacris, five-time GRAMMY Award winner Lil Wayne, Gunna, Migos and Lil Baby to headline an unforgettable performance before the AT&T Slam Dunk during State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night airing at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
As previously announced, prior to the start of the inaugural NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. ET on TNT, ESPN2 and NBA TV, award-winning actress, musical artist and television personality Keke Palmer will perform the U.S. national anthem and the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” She will be accompanied by the Howard University Showtime Marching Band.
DJ Khaled will be joined by Gunna, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige and Migos, to headline #StateFarmSaturday performances on TNT! #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/9rszpQMdkm
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2022
About the Artists
Anthony Anderson
Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor, Anthony Anderson is the star and executive producer of ABC’s multi-award nominated sitcom “black-ish” where he portrays Andre “Dre” Johnson which is currently airing its eighth and final season. Anderson also will reprise his role as Detective Kevin Barnard on the 21st season of “Law and Order,” which makes a highly anticipated return to television. He also hosts the ABC game show “To Tell the Truth.” Anderson is executive producer of both “black-ish” and its spin-off “grown-ish.” He has numerous other television and film credits including TRANSFORMERS, THE DEPARTED and HUSTLE & FLOW. Anderson has received seven Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series as producer, and three Golden Globe nominations and three Critics Choice nominations for his role on “black-ish.” He has won seven Image Awards and received 16 nominations in his career. In 2020 he was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
D-Nice
The legendary DJ, rapper, beatboxer, producer, photographer and philanthropist has moved millions on wax with timeless records, on stage at unforgettable gigs and online with his revolutionary virtual “Club Quarantine” on Instagram Live. The NAACP Image Awards named him Entertainer of The Year, Time Magazine nominated him for 2020 Person of the Year, while he took home the 2020 Webby Artist of the Year award in the category of “Special Achievement” and Ebony Magazine included him on its 2021 “Power 100” list. Most importantly, “Club Quarantine” positively impacted the globe, raising millions for first responders, HBCUs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Apollo Theater and more.
DJ Khaled
Since launching his career two decades ago, GRAMMY winner, multiplatinum artist, music industry visionary, innovative influencer, mogul and mega-producer DJ Khaled has sold 18 million singles and 5 million albums and generated more than 3 billion streams. His discography encompasses eight gold singles, five platinum singles and two double-platinum singles. He landed back-to-back No. 1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with the gold-selling “Major Key” in 2016 and the platinum-certified, GRAMMY Award-nominated “Grateful” in 2017. The latter boasted the sextuple-platinum Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “I’m The One” (feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne) and quadruple-platinum “Wild Thoughts” (feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller). His 12th full-length album, “Father of Asahd,” was the No. 1 Most-Streamed Record upon release in 2019, achieved a gold certification from the RIAA and marked his third straight Top 2 debut on the Billboard Top 200. He also runs We the Best Music Group, is a New York Times bestselling author and served as a judge on Fox’s top-rated 2018 smash “The Four.”
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is a music institution. In 1969, music legend Maurice White birthed the music force named after the elements from his very own astrological charts. The group has scored eight number one hits and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. They’ve released 23 albums; eight went double platinum and hit the Top 10, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time. They’ve won nine GRAMMY Awards including one for Lifetime Achievement (2012). In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing their lasting impact on popular music. In 2019, their contributions to arts and culture were acknowledged with a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor. The music of Earth, Wind & Fire is more alive than ever as they continue to inspire new audiences and thrill those who have been with them from the beginning. Like the elements in the group’s name, Earth, Wind & Fire’s music has withstood ever-changing trends in the world and shows no sign of vanishing. From the funky and infectious “Let’s Groove” to the timeless dance classic “September” to the heartfelt “Reasons,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s catalog of hits has become the soundtrack to many lives; now, then and forever.
Lil Baby
Six-time GRAMMY-nominated rapper Lil Baby has been one of the most dominant and critically-acclaimed names in music with over 30 billion global streams. Unapologetically himself and speaking his truth in lyrics connects him to listeners like no other. In 2020 he released My Turn, the No. 1 streamed and No. 1 selling album of any genre that year which also held 14 records simultaneously on The Billboard Hot 100, tying himwith musical titans Prince and Paul McCartney. His 2021 joint project, The Voice of the Heroes, with Lil Durk was his second number one project on the Billboard 200. He has earned three BET Awards for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Duo with Lil Durk, and Best New Artist. He was also named Vevo’s Top Performing Hip-Hop Artist, MVP on Rap Caviar, and won Global Artist of the Year at the Apple Music Awards. He has earned six Grammy nominations during his young career.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne rewrote the entire game in his image. The five-time GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum rap icon, Young Money Entertainment founder, acclaimed author, skater, philanthropist, and history-making superstar has left an indelible tattoo on the culture. By 2020, he cemented his legacy forever as one of the best-selling artists of all time, tallying sales of more than 100 million records worldwide with 15 million albums and 37 million digital tracks sold in the United States alone. He garnered 11 BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV VMAs, and eight NAACP Image Awards. Among many milestones, he emerged as “the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100,” logging a staggering 109 entries. With a discography highlighted by two consecutive No. 1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with 2008’s triple-platinum, three-time GRAMMY Award-winning opus Tha Carter III and its double-platinum 2011 successor Tha Carter IV, he completed the series with Tha Carter V in 2018. Simultaneously, Wayne owns and operates Young Money Entertainment as CEO.
Ludacris
As a recording artist, Ludacris has sold more than 15 million albums domestically, thanks to the blockbuster success of such singles as “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Number One Spot,” “Money Maker” and “My Chick Bad” in addition to being featured in and co-writing Carrie Underwood’s hit single “The Champion”. His feature film credits include Universal Pictures’ blockbuster Fast & the Furious franchise, including Fast 7, Fast & Furious 6, Fast Five, 2 Fast 2 Furious and The Fate of the Furious, which broke records at the box office, becoming the highest grossing film opening worldwide. He has also played feature roles in “Crash, Hustle & Flow”, “Ride” and “Show Dogs”, “New Year’s Eve” and “No Strings Attached”, opposite Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. Stepping back into the studio, he is working on new music with an album release sometime this year. His latest venture includes launching his educational platform devoted to the enrichment of children called “KidNation”, in addition, the opening of his long-anticipated restaurant “Chicken-n-Beer” located at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. Bridges’ philanthropic efforts rival his entertainment accomplishments. He started The Ludacris Foundation in 2001 which focuses on helping the youth in his hometown of Atlanta. In addition, he has recently partnered with No Kid Hungry and Feeding America.
Mary J. Blige
Iconic GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, Oscar-nominated actress, producer and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment, making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine GRAMMY Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, a SAG nomination, and a BET Lifetime Achievement award, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar. The singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums. Blige just released her 15th studio album, GOOD MORNING GORGEOUS, and performed in the historic Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show.
Macy Gray
Macy Gray, the renowned artist, actor, activist and strong woman, is no stranger to saying what needs to be said and acting on her words. Since Gray broke into the music scene in 1999 with the release of her debut, triple-platinum album, How Life is, she has become a powerhouse of R&B and Soul. She has amassed a devoted global fan base and sold over 25 million total albums globally. A five-time GRAMMY Nominee, Gray received the GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 2000 for her iconic song “I Try” and has received two BRIT Awards. Gray’s latest album will be coming out in 2022. Titled “The Reset”, the album is primed to create further discussion about what is happening in today’s world and will help redefine what pop music should be while providing music lovers with amazing music, good times and a great message. Gray’s talents resound beyond music as well. She starred in Tyler Perry’s Black Reel Award-winning “For Colored Girls” and would grace the screen everywhere from “Brotherly Love and Cardboard Boxer” to NETFLIX’s hit “Fuller House.”
Machine Gun Kelly
Recording artist Machine Gun Kelly is a multi-hyphenate talent with an impressive career that started in Cleveland and has made him a globally known star in both music and film. Machine Gun Kelly’s fifth studio album, Tickets To My Downfall, was released on September 25, 2020 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The platinum album was the first rock album of 2020 to take the top spot and amassed over half a billion streams in under a week. He has landed 18 songs on the Hot Rock Songs Billboard chart and to date, Tickets to My Downfall has sold over 2.5 million albums and has had more than 3.6 billion streams worldwide. MGK has racked up numerous awards, including an American Music Award for Favorite Rock Artist, back-to-back MTV VMAs for Best Alternative, iHeart Radio’s Best Alternative Rock Album and 2021 Billboard Music Awards for Top Rock Artist and Top Rock Album.
Migos
With almost 30 billion streams and 68 billion YouTube views, Migos and their Culture series stand tall in the pantheon of hip-hop greatness. The group has received massive critical acclaim, 47 award nominations, and was the first rap group to tie the Beatles for most simultaneous Hot 100 entries. Since 2017, when they broke through with the original Culture, Migos has taken home Best Group at the BET Awards every year. With more than a dozen gold and platinum singles, two multi-platinum albums, and hundreds of songs behind them, Migos stepped away to prepare the final installment of their Culture trilogy. Culture III reminds everyone that Migos is the greatest rap group of the modern era and they are here to shift the culture once again.
Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer is an Emmy award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, producer and television host. Kicking off the year, Palmer starred and executive produced the feature Alice alongside Steel Springs Pictures’ opposite Common and Johnny Lee Miller from writer and director Krystin Ver Linden. This summer, she is set to star as the lead in “Nope,” Jordan Peele’s highly anticipated next feature at Universal. In 2021, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of the five Taylor family members in her own series, Turnt Up With the Taylors which she produced with Kids at Play for Facebook Watch based on the original characters who rose to popularity on her social media. Keke is currently lending her voice to “Maya” in Disney+’s revival of The Proud Family and “Rochelle” in Netflix’s new Big Mouth spinoff, Human Resources after appearing in Season 5 of Big MouthShe hosted Disney+’s food competition show, “Foodtastic,” and can be heard voicing the role of “Brynn” opposite Pete Davidson in Broadway Video’s Audible scripted podcast, “Hit Job.”
Ryland James
A two–time JUNO Award–nominated and platinum–certified vocal dynamo, Ryland James is an emotionally keen songwriter and powerhouse performer. The Deseronto, Ontario native emerged on the global stage in 2019, with his breakout single “In My Head.” The song soared to No. 1 on Shazam Canada’s Top 200 chart and went platinum in Canada. He supported multiplatinum superstar Alessia Cara on a sold out North American tour and performed at festivals such as Life Is Beautiful. On the heels of his self-titled 2020 debut EP, Ryland James, he exceeded 72 million global streams. He kicked off 2021 with the single “Blame,” which tallied another 5 million–plus streams and “Save Me” with Shaun Frank. James welcomed 2022 with a brand new single titled, “I Give Everything,” via Universal Music Canada and Republic Records. The track comes after a year of self-reflection and immense personal growth for James, who not only came to terms with who he is but embraced himself with pride.
Spike Lee
Academy Award® Winner SPIKE LEE has an iconic body of storytelling that has made an indelible mark on filmmaking and television. Most recently, he has entered into a multiyear partnership with Netflix that will see him directing and producing narrative features. He previously collaborated with Netflix on projects including: “Da 5 Bloods” (which he directed and co-wrote), the series “She’s Gotta Have It” (which he created, wrote and directed), the film version of “Rodney King” (which he directed) and the Stefon Bristol sci-fi film “See You Yesterday” (which he produced). He is set to direct a multipart documentary on activist and athlete Colin Kaepernick for ESPN Films. In August 2021, he directed and produced the four-part documentary essay “NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½” released by HBO and streamed on HBO Max. In 2018, the visionary filmmaker co-wrote and directed the Academy Award-nominated and critically acclaimed hit feature “BlacKKKlansman,” which won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. His career spans more than 30 years and includes: “She’s Gotta Have It,” “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever,” “Malcolm X,” “Crooklyn,” “Clockers,” “Girl 6,” “Get on the Bus,” “He Got Game,” “Summer of Sam,” “Bamboozled,” “25th Hour,” “She Hate Me,” “Inside Man,” “Miracle at St. Anna,” “Red Hook Summer,” “Old Boy” and “Chi-Raq.”
Tiffany Haddish
Emmy and Grammy award winner Tiffany Haddish has established herself as one of the most sought-after comedic actresses and performers worldwide. She can be seen in Apple TV’s murder mystery series “The Afterparty,} opposite Dave Franco, Ben Schwartz and Ilana Glazer and opposite Oscar Isaac in the critically acclaimed Paul Schrader film “The Card Counter.” She is also currently in production on the Disney film “Haunted Mansion” and will next start production in Cory Finley’s feature adaptation of the National Book Award winner “Landscape With Invisible Hand.” Other recent projects include reprising her role as Tuca in the Adult Swim animated series “Tuca & Bertie,” hosting TBS’ new weekly movie showcase and talk show “Friday Night Vibes” and Netflix’s “Bad Trip,” starring alongside Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery. Haddish is perhaps best known for her breakout role in the smash comedy “Girls Trip,” where she starred as the scene-stealing “Dina” alongside Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Regina Hall.
Usher
Usher has changed music, culture and countless lives. Beyond selling more than 80 million records worldwide and collecting dozens of awards, he has simultaneously lit up the small screen on NBC’s The Voice and the big screen in blockbusters such as Hustlers. He has also tirelessly distinguished himself as a devout humanitarian, raising tens of millions of dollars for various causes and uplifting youth via his New Look Foundation since 1999. The multiple GRAMMY Award-winning, diamond-selling international megastar, actor, dancer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and proud Atlanta resident inspires change yet again in 2022 and beyond. Thus far, he has gathered eight GRAMMY Awards and emerged as Billboard’s “No. 1 Hot 100 Artist of the 2000s,” “No. 2 most successful artist of the 2000s,” and “one of the best-selling artists in American music history,” according to the RIAA. He catapulted four consecutive albums to No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, beginning with the landmark diamond-certified Confessions in 2004. He continued to push boundaries with a series of singles and shows before setting the stage for his ninth full-length offering in 2022. Most importantly, Usher gives back at every turn.
