NBA All-Star Weekend 2022: What Celebs, Athletes Said About CLE

CLEVELAND — In a rare turn of events, Northeast Ohio found itself in the national spotlight this weekend. The city hosted the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, bringing superstar athletes and celebrities to the shores of Lake Erie.

The region's prodigal son, LeBron James, proclaimed himself Cleveland's third All-Star this week, joining the Cavaliers Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. Then, during a news conference, James offered these flowers to his old city, "Cleveland is very deserving of this platform and this moment."

During his own news conference, News 5 reported, second-year Cavalier Isaac Okoro brushed off complaints about the snowy conditions and said, "Cleveland's still a beautiful city."

The New York Knicks' Obi Toppin won the Slam Dunk Contest and then shouted out his alma mater, the University of Dayton, and the fans in Ohio, the Dayton Daily News noted.

"Yeah, Dayton fans, Ohio fans, they’re amazing. They show a lot of love. Definitely heard them today. They definitely came by. It means a lot for me to [win the contest] in Ohio for sure. This is like my second home," Toppin said.

There was one player that did not feel Cleveland's love — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (who was actually born in Akron, but ignore that). Still smarting from those Finals defeats in years prior, Northeast Ohioans booed Curry repeatedly throughout the weekend. When Sports Illustrated asked him if the boos bothered him, he quipped, "Oh, I love it."

Prior to the All-Star Game on Sunday, rapper and musician Machine Gun Kelly, a Northeast Ohio native, shouted out the residents of Greater Cleveland, calling them "hardworking" and giving them a moment of applause, News 5 reported.

This was the first time Cleveland had hosted the All-Star fesitivites since 1997. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the decision to return to Northeast Ohio was both intentional and coincidental. He also estimated the weekend-long spotlight would generate approximately $100 million in economic benefit for the region.