Detroit Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen have been announced as participants in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, setting up a direct NBA-vs.-NFL matchup on the court.
The game, taking place in Los Angeles this year, represents a bit of a homecoming for both players. St. Brown grew up in Anaheim Hills and spent three seasons at USC before the Lions selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Allen also stayed in-state for college, playing three seasons for the California Golden Bears before entering the NFL in 2013; he has spent 12 of his 13 pro seasons with the Chargers in San Diego and Los Angeles.
St. Brown is coming off his fourth straight season with at least 1,000 receiving yards, finishing with 117 catches for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 26-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors and was slated to play in Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl, but Detroit missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year and placed fourth in the NFC North.
Allen, 33, was productive in his first season back with the Chargers after spending a year with the Chicago Bears, leading the team with 81 receptions for 777 yards and four touchdowns. His year ended in a 16-3 wild-card loss to the New England Patriots, which coincided with the firing of offensive coordinator Greg Roman; Allen is expected to hit free agency this offseason.
The celebrity game is scheduled for Friday, February 13, the opening day of All-Star Weekend.
Fan Take: This crossover spotlights NFL stars in a mainstream, basketball-centered event, broadening their profiles and giving fans a new way to connect with players off the gridiron. It also underscores the growing trend of cross-sport exposure—good for the league’s visibility, though teams and fans will rightly keep an eye on player safety.
