Big stars set for Jam Live
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E-mail China Daily, May 2, 2012
A little NBA plus a little pop music equals a whole lot of party.
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Former All-Star guard Gary Payton will lead retired and current NBA players who will play an exhibition game in China on May 19. [File photo] |
Asian entertainers will team up with NBA players and legends to deliver "NBA Presents: Jam Live" at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena on May 19.
The event will feature a celebrity co-ed basketball game, a skills challenge, a concert and in-game entertainment.
Nine-time Seattle SuperSonics All-Star guard Gary Payton, four-time NBA champion Horace Grant and former Chinese Olympian Ma Jian will join Milwaukee Bucks scorer Brandon Jennings and Toronto Raptors swingman DeMar DeRozan in the exhibition game.
Meanwhile, a group of entertainers including pop singers Chang Csun-yuk, Aya and Chen Chusheng and actress Huang Yi will display their basketball skills alongside models Qin Shupei and Xi Mengyao.
"I am super excited to be playing alongside two of my NBA idols, Horace Grant and Gary Payton," Aya said during a pre-game interview last week. "This is a dream come true for me. I grew up watching them on TV and I hope I can learn some shooting tips from them."
Zhang echoed Aya's sentiment, stressing the natural link between basketball and music.
"This is truly fantastic being able to see two of my passions, music and basketball, coming together on the same stage," he said. "How cool to be able to perform in the middle of a basketball game. This will be so much fun."
Adding to the in-game entertainment and festivities will be the New Jersey Nets' dancers, dunking performers and NBA mascots, including Sly from the Nets and Slamson from the Sacramento Kings.
There will also be a half-court session featuring a mid-court shooting contest, skills challenge and 3-point shootout.
There will also be interactive activities including DJ music requests, a Kiss Cam and on-court contests for fans.
Co-hosted by the Guangzhou Basketball Association and the Huayi Brothers Media Corporation, the event will be televised nationwide through Star TV and Guangdong TV, the official TV partners of the event.
NBA digital partners Sina and Tencent will have celebrity interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and pre-event and live happenings on and off the court with fans via the league's official micro-blogs on each platform.
For more news and ticket sales information, log on NBA.com/china, nbavip.qq.com, Damai.cn or Piao.com.cn, or call 4006103721.
