As we creep closer to what seems likely to be a Golden State Warriors sweep of the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers—a feat that would fully suture the wound of squandering a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 NBA Finals—it’s nice to reminisce about a simpler, less dramatic time. I’m talking about NBA All-Star Weekend. This past February, the NBA thought it would be a good idea to host the league’s biggest three-day showcase in New Orleans during the full swing of Mardi Gras. This was not a time to be caught without a fresh cut.
During that frenzied period, LeBron James and Draymond Green were able to take some time off to link up with some clippers, get cleaned up, and take part in the time-honored tradition of opinion sharing and talking shit in a barber shop. In the midst of yet another furious, high-stakes on-court battle between the two 23s, the ESPN-produced clip of this session is highly entertaining.
Steve Stoute—a former record executive and current CEO of marketing powerhouse Translation—is tasked with stealthily moderating a slew of topics including basketball, the music business, the idea of “success,” and… more basketball.
Other appearances include Atlanta rapper and Hawks superfan 2 Chainz, LeBron’s business manager Maverick Carter, activist and Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams, and former New York Knick great Charles Oakley (as the resident old man). What ensues is a fantastic, candid peek into what an all-star gathering in one of the most cherished safe spaces in the black community— where you can speak freely and share feelings without judgment—looks like. It should also offer a full tank of gas for those who will visit their local shops to play armchair analyst on the morning of June 10, the day after Game Four.
