Kevin Hart to Host NBA All-Star Game with All-New Tournament Format
The NBA is going all out to make this year’s All-Star Game an unforgettable event. The league announced that Kevin Hart will be the first-ever on-court emcee, bringing his “signature energy and humor” to the game.
This year’s All-Star Game will have a brand-new format featuring four teams battling in a mini-tournament across three games. The 24 NBA All-Stars have been split into three teams of eight, while the fourth team will be made up of the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge, which has its own mini-tournament.
Hart won’t just be watching from the sidelines—he’ll be right in the action, delivering live commentary from the court. And he’s no random pick, either—he’s a four-time MVP of the NBA’s All-Star Celebrity Game.
“He will be leveraging his longstanding friendships with the league’s prominent players and his legendary status as an entertainer to add a layer of comedic disruption into the live game,” the NBA said in its announcement. “Hart will be charged with hyping up fans in the arena and watching around the world alongside Ernie Johnson and team general managers Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker and Kenny Smith.”
The game tips off Sunday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, TBS, truTV, and MAX.