LeBron James

Nearly three years after New Orleans endured one of the most devastating natural calamities in U.S. history, the city took a monumental step towards returning to normalcy by hosting the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend. This year’s festivities were about renewal and change. The NBA teamed up with over 2,500 volunteers from around the world to organize the largest rebuilding campaign since Hurricane Katrina.

On the court, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic proved that big men can dunk with style, becoming the tallest person ever to win the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest. Howard received a roaring ovation from the crowd at the New Orleans Arena after he put on a Superman cape and threw down an alley-oop dunk thrown by teammate Jameer Nelson. Lebron James led the East with 27 points in a 134-28 victory over the West in the 57th All-Star Game.

The fun-filled weekend allowed the residents of New Orleans to be optimistic about the future of their city, although a great deal must still be done to boost revitalization efforts. “It’s a blessing to be a part of this weekend in New Orleans,” Allen Iverson said. “After the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, the NBA was able to bring people together to have fun. I went to a school to put some smiles on the faces of the kids, and it feels good to help this community.” –amir shaw

West All-Stars

Allen Iverson

Dwight Howard

Ray Allen

Deron Williams

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