Between his pitching mound backflips and rabid Toronto Raptors fandom, there is no denying that Simu Liu is something of a high-level baller. Now, the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star will take his talents to an even bigger stage: the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
Today, Liu was among the famous players named to the annual star-studded teams, set to square off on Friday, February 17 in Salt Lake City, UT, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities.
Liu's team, captained by three-time NBA Champion Dwyane Wade — will see him line up alongside Janelle Monáe, 21 Savage, comedian Hasan Minhaj, Nicky Jam, NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf, WNBA All-Star Arike Ogunbowale and more.
That team goes up against a crew of opponents captained by Utah Jazz governor Ryan Smith, featuring country-crossover star Kane Brown, Cordae, Ozuna, WWE superstar the Miz, WNBA All-Star Diamond DeShields, Jimmy Kimmel Live! correspondent Guillermo Rodriguez, former MLB first baseman Albert Pujols and others.
Liu and his teammates will be coached by two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, his brothers Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo, and three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn — that is, if Liu isn't stapled to the bench after reminding the eldest Antetokounmpo of what Drake and the Toronto Raptors did to his Milwaukee Bucks on their way to capturing the 2019 NBA Championship.
Liu has been angling to get in on this game for years, telling GQ in 2021, "I played basketball all throughout high school. Was never really any good — averaged maybe a solid six or seven points a game. Had big NBA dreams and unfortunately, at the age of 32, feel like they're dashed."
"Probably the critical factor is, I never ended up growing past five-eleven-and-a-half," he continued. "But, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is very much in the cards." Our takeaway? Don't let your hoop dreams be dreams.
You can catch Liu in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game via ESPN and the ESPN app on February 17 at 7 p.m. ET — ahead of watching him host the 2023 JUNO Awards, and the forthcoming Barbie movie.
Today, Liu was among the famous players named to the annual star-studded teams, set to square off on Friday, February 17 in Salt Lake City, UT, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities.
Liu's team, captained by three-time NBA Champion Dwyane Wade — will see him line up alongside Janelle Monáe, 21 Savage, comedian Hasan Minhaj, Nicky Jam, NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf, WNBA All-Star Arike Ogunbowale and more.
That team goes up against a crew of opponents captained by Utah Jazz governor Ryan Smith, featuring country-crossover star Kane Brown, Cordae, Ozuna, WWE superstar the Miz, WNBA All-Star Diamond DeShields, Jimmy Kimmel Live! correspondent Guillermo Rodriguez, former MLB first baseman Albert Pujols and others.
Liu and his teammates will be coached by two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, his brothers Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo, and three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn — that is, if Liu isn't stapled to the bench after reminding the eldest Antetokounmpo of what Drake and the Toronto Raptors did to his Milwaukee Bucks on their way to capturing the 2019 NBA Championship.
Liu has been angling to get in on this game for years, telling GQ in 2021, "I played basketball all throughout high school. Was never really any good — averaged maybe a solid six or seven points a game. Had big NBA dreams and unfortunately, at the age of 32, feel like they're dashed."
"Probably the critical factor is, I never ended up growing past five-eleven-and-a-half," he continued. "But, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game is very much in the cards." Our takeaway? Don't let your hoop dreams be dreams.
You can catch Liu in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game via ESPN and the ESPN app on February 17 at 7 p.m. ET — ahead of watching him host the 2023 JUNO Awards, and the forthcoming Barbie movie.
@gqsports Put @Simu Liu in the #NBA All-Star Celebrity Game! 🏀 #SimuLiu #ShangChi #Basketball #MCU #Marvel #GQ ♬ original sound - GQ Sports
