TNT will premiere a special NBA All-Star edition of the critically-acclaimed Open Court – an NBA TV original programming series – on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. ET, leading into the network’s exclusive State Farm All-Star Saturday Night coverage. Open Court: All-Star presented by Gillette Fusion ProGlide will feature insightful and candid dialogue as the panel of TNT and NBA TV analysts reflect on their All-Star memories, why NBA All-Star events are so popular with fans, and how the events continue to evolve.
Sports Emmy® Award-winning studio host Ernie Johnson moderates the panel with Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller, five-time NBA Champion Steve Kerr, four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal, two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith, five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber and NBA Champion Steve Smith.
Traditionally airing on NBA TV, the most recent installment of Open Court (Tuesday, Feb. 5) averaged 213,000 total viewers to become the network’s most-viewed original airing of the program since the series’ debut in November 2011. In this year’s six installments of Open Court on NBA TV, the total average viewership is up 103 percent vs. 2011-12.
Click on the following link to view a clip:
Charles Barkley talks about Larry Bird and the three-point competition
Quotes from Open Court: All-Star presented by Gillette Fusion ProGlide:
Barkley on his first All-Star appearance: “The first time you go to an All-Star Game, it’s incredible. They have a meeting and they bring all of y’all into a room. [There was] Bird, McHale, Parish, Kareem and…you’re just kinda in shock.”
Shaquille O’Neal on the first time he participated in NBA All-Star festivities: “I beat out my idol Patrick Ewing. I got to see Charles, Malone, Stockton, Dominique and I was just a kid at heart. Later, when I became older, it was my job to lighten everybody up.”
Kenny Smith on his participation in the Slam Dunk contest: “The dunk contest is probably different from any other event you’ve been a part of in your whole life. The adrenaline [of 23,000 fans in attendance] probably got me to try things that I never would’ve tried. It does two things: it either makes you come up with some stuff that you can’t do or it freezes you. It’s an overwhelming feeling.”
Chris Webber on walking into the All-Star locker room for the first time: “It’s an honor. You feel like you’ve made it. It’s validation. You’re happy that you [get to] meet your greatest heroes of all-time.”
Reggie Miller on what he would like to see added to NBA All-Star festivities: “Bring back one-on-ones. I would love to see LeBron James against Kevin Garnett, one-on-one, game to 11.”
Steve Kerr on the quality of play in the NBA All-Star Game: “The guy who has lifted the quality of play in the All-Star Game in the last few years is LeBron James. He seems to take it more seriously than the other superstars in recent years. He enjoys it – the competition. When the best player goes hard in those games, it brings everybody up.”
Kenny Smith on his most memorable All-Star moment: “The most memorable moment for me in an All-Star Game was Magic Johnson. It was big on so many levels. Forget the basketball part. At that time – HIV and AIDS – nobody knew what it was. He made me comfortable being around him. He made me feel like I could take that [feeling] into other areas of my life. He didn’t even know he did that [for me]. This guy made me feel so comfortable being around things I may have been uncomfortable with.”
NBA TV will re-air the Open Court: All-Star presented by Gillette Fusion ProGlide episode on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Noon ET.
– 30 –
Recent Comments