Part of the equation Jordan Brand Classic 2013 is basketball, and the showcasing of young talent and future superstars. But another part of the equation, one just as crucial, is the goal of bringing together a mini-community of athletes and providing them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience crafted by the Jordan Brand. Leading up to the trio of games on Saturday, the kids bopped around NYC and discovered the heritage of the brand throughout the city, from a sit down event with Spike Lee and Sway out in Brooklyn to a trip to Gleason’s Gym for some boxing with Andre Ward.
Of course yet another aspect of the event is its star studded status, one that was particularly prevalent this year thanks to this year’s New York/Brooklyn locale. Countless athletes, rappers, and the like were spotted courtside (Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Victor Cruz, and Fabolous just to name a few). And then there was the Drake concert immediately following the Kidd-Gilchrist game which brought everybody out of their seats at the culmination of the evening. Continue reading to see Carmine the Jordan Brand Classic kids were up to before the games went down, the celebrities that showed up, Drake’s explosive performance, and more in our Jordan Brand Classic 2013 event recap.