Ex-NBA stars Baron Davis, Jason Williams headline Mountain Dew 3-on-3 game
It's been 13 years since Baron Davis played in an NBA All-Star Game. But the former point guard, who hasn't played in the league since 2012, has found himself back on the court multiple times at All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.
Not only in Friday night's Celebrity Game, but on Thursday, too, in a Mountain Dew three-on-three game, part of Dew NBA 3X.
The game — which aired Saturday night on TNT — featured Davis as a captain of one team, former NBA point guard Jason Williams as the captain of the other and NBA All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook on the sidelines as general managers.
The teams, who were hand-picked by Dennis Scott and Shaquille O'Neal, were made up of the top elite amateur players from across the country, who participated in a one-on-one elimination tournament to earn their spots in the game.
The game, which Davis and Team Kyrie won, was much more than a chance for these amateur players to dabble into the NBA's landscape for a day. The winners were also given $10,000 and the chance to compete in an invite-only NBA D-League national tryout.
In addition, Irving received $10,000 for the charity of his choice — Best Buddies.
Davis, who spoke with Paste BN Sports after the game, said it was great to be back out on the court and to help the amateur players follow their dreams.
"Just to be playing again, be back on the court — one, to be playing against Jason Williams, that's my dog, I (expletive) love that dude," Davis said. "Just to reconnect and be around all the former NBA players, current dudes. It's a good thing to see these young (amateur players) chasing their dream. I think that's great. ... I thought it was a great event, and also a great game."
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This is the second year of the Dew NBA 3X tour, which traveled to six cities in 2016.
“Dew NBA 3X is all about introducing fans to the competitive spirit of the game and providing dedicated players the chance to fulfill their own hoop dreams,” Hall of Famer Gary Payton said when Dew NBA 3X was announced in May. “This platform is a great way to experience the passion and values behind basketball, while enjoying some outstanding NBA and Dew entertainment.”