DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Bucks star Damian Lillard thrilled All-Star weekend featured NBA HBCU Classic in his native Oakland

February 15, 2025
in News, Sports
Bucks star Damian Lillard thrilled All-Star weekend featured NBA HBCU Classic in his native Oakland
646
SHARES
1.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

OAKLAND, Calif. — Damian Lillard’s native Oakland hardly resembles the thriving sports city he has so cherished since his youth.

Three major professional sports franchises, all gone in recent years.

So when the Milwaukee Bucks star came back home for the All-Star Game, you bet he hoped the East Bay would have a big presence.

The Golden State Warriors’ former home arena hosted not only the All-Star practices Saturday but also the NBA HBCU Classic featuring Morehouse College and Tuskegee University.

That meant so much to Lillard, who has been sad to see the Warriors, Athletics and Raiders depart the city.

And it didn’t just matter for Lillard but stood to honor all of the Black greats to come out of Oakland — from Gary Payton and Jason Kidd to the late Bill Russell and Rickey Henderson.

“Growing up close by here, driving by and looking at the Coliseum and seeing Oracle and how dead it is, when there was so much energy in it when I was a kid with the Raiders, the A’s, the Warriors being here, concerts, AND1 Mixtape tour coming through here, Globetrotters. I remember a lot about this parking lot,” Lillard said after practice with his Shaq’s OGs squad.

“One of the first things I asked when I got here was, are they doing Saturday night at Oracle? Just because I would have loved to see that energy be here with the professional sports teams being taken away. So for us to be able to come here and do the practice, for the HBCU game being here … especially with how rich our history is with African-American athletes, I’m happy that they kind of took this stance and came this direction with it because I think the city needs this type of energy.”

This marked the fourth time incorporating a game between two schools representing HBCUs — Historically Black Colleges and Universities — during All-Star weekend in order to increase awareness for these student-athletes and develop more chances for their programs and schools.

“It’s always good to create an opportunity for the HBCU programs to get some shine, get some love,” Curry said. “It’s an amazing stage and I love the fact that the NBA is invested in it. That’s part of what this weekend’s about.”

Curry still feels connected to Oakland, where he and wife Ayesha do so much work through their Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation in the schools and community.

Former Warriors and Kings coach Keith Smart just took over a high school program at Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane, Utah, last month and his team participated in a game here Friday. But Smart made sure everybody stuck around to see the All-Star practices Saturday followed by the HBCU game.

“When you look at the demographics of the teams, all these guys, you give them hope. That’s what the NBA is doing is giving them hope,” Smart said. “Players that might have a chance or may not have a chance, but now they’ve got a big brother backing them with the NBA. So this event as well as now having a big brother for the most part behind you, it can only help.”

Veteran NBA writer and reporter David Aldridge so appreciates the efforts to put HBCU programs on the big stage during All-Star weekend.

“It’s been great,” Aldridge said. “For the NBA to intentionally lean into the HBCUs and to give them really an equal platform with the rest of the things going on this weekend it’s so affirming, and it’s affirming to the kids. I’ve done a couple of the games over the years and they really feel empowered. And it gives them incredible confidence that their league gets this kind of attention and this kind of platform to really showcase the kids’ skill level and their talent level and togetherness.”

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP NBA: and AP college basketball: and

The post Bucks star Damian Lillard thrilled All-Star weekend featured NBA HBCU Classic in his native Oakland appeared first on Associated Press.

Share258Tweet162Share
Where to Watch July 4 Fireworks Around New York City
News

Where to Watch July 4 Fireworks Around New York City

by New York Times
July 3, 2025

Macy’s 49th annual July 4 celebration returns to its regularly scheduled programming this year, heading back to the East River ...

Read more
News

3 millones de personas podrían perder Medi-Cal bajo la vergonzosa reforma fiscal de Trump, advierte Newsom

July 3, 2025
News

She Spent Nearly $600,000 on Her Council Race and Lost. Was It Worth It?

July 3, 2025
Health

Massachusetts advocates fear Trump’s bill will unravel health safety net in Obamacare’s model state

July 3, 2025
News

7-Eleven worker dies after she was allegedly attacked by manager

July 3, 2025
‘MS-13 clique’: ABC News blasted for downplaying violent gang

‘MS-13 clique’: ABC News blasted for downplaying violent gang

July 3, 2025
US: Trump’s ‘Beautiful Bill’ halted by Republican holdouts

US: Trump’s ‘Beautiful Bill’ halted by Republican holdouts

July 3, 2025
Spéciale Aix : notre Power 40 et le guide ultime des Rencontres

Spéciale Aix : notre Power 40 et le guide ultime des Rencontres

July 3, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.