All-Star notebook: All-Stars share busy weekend with their kids
BY Associated Press
Sunday, February 17, 2013
2/17/13 at 6:43 AM
Many of the fathers in this year's crop of All-Stars brought their children along as they moved through Saturday's jam-packed schedule.
Several members of both teams had their sons and daughters with them as they met with the media before practice for Sunday night's game.
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, with his young son Kiyan on his lap, lit up when asked what it meant for him to share this weekend with his boy.
"This is for him," he said. "We do this for our kids and our family. Of course we enjoy it, but we want them to enjoy it. That's why we bring them up here and try to do as much as possible with them. This is something that they'll never forget."
Kiyan, who wore a Knicks shirt and oversized baseball cap with the word "EAST" on it, was quiet the entire time Anthony spoke.
"He's going to talk about it later on," Anthony said, nudging the boy. "He's shy right now. He loves basketball. He can name all these players and their stats, what they do."
Kiyan finally broke his silence when asked to reveal his favorite player besides his father.
He paused for a couple of seconds before quietly saying "LeBron," and smiling to reveal a grin that was missing its two front teeth.
Some of the kids at the event weren't as patient as Kiyan. The son of Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul let his father know when he was ready to go.
"Daddy, we're done," the boy exclaimed near the end of the interview.
Paul talked for another minute or so while the boy went back behind the curtain, then returned and threw his credential down.
Even if he wasn't on his best behavior, Paul couldn't imagine not bringing him to All-Star weekend.
"I try to take my son everywhere," Paul said. "We just got off a 15-day road trip and I ain't seen my son for two weeks. I wasn't going anywhere without him."
Young star: At just 22, Jrue Holiday is the youngest player in 76ers history to make it to the All-Star game. Fellow All-Star Tim Duncan was 14 years old when Holiday was born in 1990.
On Saturday, Holiday was still getting used to the fact that he'll be playing with so many guys that he watched in his childhood.
"Growing up trying to be like a player and then next thing you know you're in one of the biggest games of the year playing with them or against them," he said. "It's cool. It's exciting, but at the same time it is a little weird."
Holiday has fond memories of watching the All-Star game and dunk competitions as a child and going out to the court to try and replicate the plays those stars made.
He's hoping he can create similar memories for kids watching this year's game.
"Hopefully tomorrow I'll try to make a memorable play and they'll try to mimic me," he said. "That would be awesome. Hopefully I can make a permanent All-Star highlight that will stand for the rest of my life."
Wanna be a baller: Before American Idol winner Phillip Phillips performed at All-Star Saturday night, he lamented the fact that he was never any good at basketball.
But he does like watching the sport, especially the slam dunk contest.
"I wish I could dunk," he said. "... I have no basketball skills at all."
