This last Saturday, UBC hosted the NBA All-Star Challenge that has been travelling across the country. Returning to the city with the event is former Vancouver Grizzlies icon Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
For the first time in NBA history, Canada will play host to the All-Star weekend, which will take place in Toronto from February 12-14.
Participants in the event had the opportunity to enter and compete in the skills competition, three-point shootout and a slam-dunk contest with the winner taking home the top prize of an all-expense paid trip to Toronto for the All-Star weekend.
Abdur-Rahim returned to Vancouver with the All-Star Challenge this Saturday to cheer on the participants and our Thunderbirds men’s and women’s double-header.
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Abdur-Rahim was thrilled to return to the city where he made his NBA debut in 1996.
“When we drove up here, we drove up through Kitsilano. When I played here, that’s kind of the area I lived in, so it brought back a lot of memories. As a young kid, I came here, so it’s kind of where things started for me,” said Abdur-Rahim.
The Grizzlies played in Vancouver for six seasons before the franchise was moved.
“I think, for a lot of people, the Grizzlies at that time were like the introduction to basketball. I think a lot of people were inspired to play basketball,” said Abdur-Rahim. “If you look at the talent that’s coming up through Canada over the last five or six years, I think the Grizzlies organization had a part in that.”
He said his advice to young athletes just entering the sport is to “just relax, have fun, go out and compete.”
Abdur-Rahim is still undecided if he will be attending this year’s All-Star weekend, but is excited for Canada to host the event for the first time.
“I think it’s wonderful — Toronto is a great city.”
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