RIP Jerry Buss

NBA All Star Game 2012-2013

The NBA All Star game is a showcase of some of the best basketball talent in the world. Some people say it is a glorified pickup game...but I am guessing these people never played in a pickup game. I have played this game at various levels and sometimes the intensity and skill set to survive and win a pickup game are second to none.

The last few years these games have been quite competitive and I think the credit for that goes to Kobe Bryant. He plays hard. Every game. He relishes competition and wants to rise above. This game though he seemed content to play the part of the elder statesman...distributing the ball and making plays...until the fourth quarter. The game was suddenly close and the stage seemed to be set for Lebron to take over. Then this happened... The entire arena was filled with oohs and aahs. I have never seen Lebron get blocked like that. Moments later, Kobe delivered another block...this time on a layup. The Mamba had made his mark.

15 All Star appearances and still going hard every single minute. Respect.