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Culture

AP Dhillon to Play in 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

The Punjabi-Canadian star joins musicians like Noah Kahan and Shaboozey as well as celebrities like streamer Kai Cenat, wrestler Bayley and athletes Baron Davis and Allisha Gray.

AP Dhillon
AP Dhillon photographed for Billboard Canada's Punjabi Wave cover story
Photography team: Ishmil Waterman, Lane Dorsey, Sasha Jairam/Billboard Canada. Styling by Veronika Lipatova, Nikita Jaisinghani, Aliecia Brisette. Makeup & Hair by Franceline Graham.

The NBA has recruited a Punjabi superstar for its All-Star Celebrity Game.

AP Dhillon, the B.C.-based star of the Punjabi Wave, will suit up for Team Rice (coached by San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice) to show off his basketball skills. The selection brings a global star to a league that has increasingly international reach.


The Celebrity All-Star rosters feature a mix of athletes, entertainers and artists such as Billboard Canadian Hot 100 record-setter Shaboozey, Noah Kahan, Mickey Guyton, NFL icon Terrell Owens, Druski, streamer and recent Billboard cover star Kai Cenat, former NBA star Baron Davis, basketball trainer Chris Brinkley, WWE wrestler Bayley, actor Rome Flynn, Golden State Warriors alum Matt Barnes, WNBA players Allisha Gray and Kayla Thorton and many more.

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Retired baseball slugger Barry Bonds coaches the other team, alongside rapper 2 Chainz.

Check out the full rosters below:

Dhillon recently featured on the lovelorn acoustic Punjabi-language song "AFSOS" by popular Indian singer-songwriter Anuv Jain:

In addition to suiting up on the court, Kahan will be part of the 2025 All-Star Weekend Concert Series along with The Chainsmokers, Flo Rida and Zedd.

The 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game action is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 14.

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From left: GIVĒON, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simon Gebrelul photographed by Diwang Valdez on December 20, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Styling by Yashua Simmons. Barbering by Moe Harb. Hair Braiding for Gilgeous-Alexander by Alysha Bonadie. Grooming by Teresa Luz. On-Site Production by Laela Zadeh.

From left: GIVĒON, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simon Gebrelul photographed by Diwang Valdez on December 20, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Styling by Yashua Simmons. Barbering by Moe Harb. Hair Braiding for Gilgeous-Alexander by Alysha Bonadie. Grooming by Teresa Luz. On-Site Production by Laela Zadeh.

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