Sprinting sensation Usain Bolt, who is an NBA fan and pulls for the Boston Celtics, will debut in the NBA All-Star Celebrity game in Houston on Friday.
Bolt is one of many celebrities who will participate in the game, which will kick off the all-star weekend activities. The Jamaican will be taking the floor with celebrities such as rapper Common, actor Nick Cannon, comedian Kevin Hart and former NBA great Dikembe Mutombo.
“It’s something big and something fun for me,” Bolt told Zeenews.com. “So I’m just looking forward to going out there and having fun and try to dunk a few times.”
Bolt is not new to basketball. As a child he played, but decided to give it up for track field, which has worked out great for him. He is the only man to win back-to-back Olympic sprint doubles in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 games.
Bolt admitted that now he is fairly rusty and a poor shooter, but when he did play basketball, he was a “good player.”
“I can’t say I’m any good right now, because I’ve stopped playing basketball and started playing football (soccer), so I’m really rusty, but I’m sure I can dunk,” Bolt said.
Bolt has publicly said that he is considering playing professional soccer in Europe after his track career is over, but for now his focus is on track.
Bolt will be the first premier track star to play in the NBA celebrity game.
The last track star to have their name connected to the NBA was American sprinter Carl Lewis. Lewis was drafted in the 10th round of the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, the same year the Bulls selected Michael Jordan as the No. 3 overall pick. Lewis was never signed by the Bulls.
Bolt is not concerned about becoming injured in the game and doesn’t plan on doing anything crazy enough to get hurt.
“It’s just fun, so it won’t be anything aggressive,” Bolt said. “It’s just guys who are just playing for fun.”
