Even an All-Star record breaking 52 points which raises eyebrows, but is just another regular season game total for Anthony Davis can’t top this. Not even the mid-February, mid-season classic games Most Valuable Player award in his Pelicans clubs home city of New Orleans can.
Because this legendary hoops holiday in the same month as musics Grammys and movies Oscars is always guaranteed a blockbuster from the dunks to the clutch money-ball contests. But this trade is a deal maker breaker like no other.
Leaving his Sacramento throne after many a sacrament, exiled King DeMarcus Cousins can certainly relate to his new front-court two towers partner Anthony Davis. And not because they’re both twin elite bigs about to be the new generation David Robinson and Tim Duncan or Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, rebooted to a whole new box-office boosting level. The BBN brothers are both alumni of Coach Calipari’s legendary U.K., Kentucky Wildcats fraternity. And now these two ‘cats are together, this curiously named Pelicans franchise finally has claws as-well as a big bill.
First they took the Hornets from Charlotte between Oklahoma City and the Thunder. Then when North Carolina brought the buzz back, New Orleans replaced them as this years All-Star hosts as commissioner Adam Silver didn’t like the lines of LGBT discrimination in the city sharing a name of a beautiful girl. Standing up for the oppressed like legendary rocker and songwriter of our troubled times Bruce Springsteen in cancelled concert.
Now Charlotte may not like this but it’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans again even after both weekends come to a close. The Pelicans are set to fly, Pelican fly after the Kings sent Cousins and talented Omri Casspi to New Orleans, who didn’t say N.O. in sending talented rookie Buddy Hield, reliable reserve Langston Galloway and former King star Tyreke Evans in exchange. Sacramento first dangled DeMarcus at their Californian neighbors and rivals the Los Angeles Lakers for top rookie Brandon Ingram, but the purple and gold didn’t take the bait.
Since the George Karl book throwing era, the disgruntled DeMarcus Cousins has no longer felt part of the Kings family like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but now it looks to be a wonderland for Boogie in the Big Easy with these two Blue bigs.
DMC running to the NOLA was a big move on a big night in a big weekend. One that saw the West win Khaled big 192-182, with 41 points from the Wests Russell Westbrook against 30 from the Easts Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (with a freak of nature devastating display of dynamic dunks…MVP Steph Curry knew the best line of defence with his headband in his hands lying on the floor) and a jersey number of points from no. 23, King LeBron James. And of course Anthony Davis of New Orleans’ 52 in the McDonalds All-American looking All-Star jerseys (his complete with a choice of sleeves) on the eve of his college reunion with Cousins.
It was all part of a big All-Star weekend in the Big Easy. That saw another big follow in the footsteps of Timberwolf Karl Anthony-Townes as New York Knick sophomore Kristaps Porzingis won the Skills Challenge. Whist Team World came up big on the U.S.A.’s home French Quarter court beating them 150-141, behind 24 career high points from Denver Nuggets star Jamaal Murray. Houston Rocket Eric Gordon soared too like ‘Hidden Figures’, propelling the money-ball racks to the stratosphere as he hit the big shot to win the Three-Point Contest over last years splash winner Klay Thompson. Also Apollo knocking out NBA Cleveland Cavalier champion clutch shot maker Kyrie Irving and the swaggy 3 of Los Angeles Laker Sixth Man spark plug Nick Young. And then of course Big Dog’s little pup son Glen Robinson III went bigger than them all jumping over three people (including All-Star teammate Paul George and the Pacers mascot and cheerleader) to win the dunk contest over Air Aaron Gordon’s drone dunk and the ‘We The Dunk’ of DeAndre (Air) Jordan. Hey, even Los Angeles Lakers teammates Metta World Peace and Lou Williams got down on a big rap crossover collabo at All Star. Who needs John Legend at the half?
But in all this Louisiana drama no story from this weekend in the easy was bigger than Boogie and the ‘Brow and the second season that’s about to follow. As the second city born Davis and his Pelicans have a second wind welcoming D.C. to his new, New Orleans home as two All-Stars align from Kentucky Bourbon to Bourbon Street.
Oh and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook made nice on an even nicer alley-oop connection.
And why the hell not?
