
HoopsTalk is a perennial Q&A session that features a plethora of Nike Basketball athletes. Scheduled to make the appearance today were Shannon Brown, Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant and LeBron James among others. This year, a live simulcast brought the interactive show to House of Hoops by Foot Locker locations across the country and around the globe, and, thanks to Facebook, right into fans’ living rooms, making this a global event. All Star fans in Dallas eagerly lined up outside the crowded store to catch a glimpse of the athletes. Everyone that didn’t get into the store was accommodated with monitors in the windows and throughout the mall to watch the live feed. I, on the other hand was one of the few people that was allowed to move around freely and meet some of the athletes in the green room. One of the few that left a lasting impression was DeMar DeRozan, scheduled to participate in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest that evening. He was fairly quiet, but was happy to meet a fan and grateful for the encouragement for the evening’s festivities.
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