Rapper Badshah is set to make history as he participates in the upcoming NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in California. The NBA confirmed this exciting news via their Instagram account, marking Badshah as the first Indian rapper to join this prestigious event.
In the game, Badshah will represent Team Anthony Anderson, which is coached by actor Anthony Anderson himself. His teammates include notable personalities such as Simu Liu, Cody Jones, Andre De Grasse, Taylor Frankie Paul, Mat Ishbia, Jason Williams, Nicolas Vansteenberghe, Mustard, Adrien Nunez, and Keenan Allen. The coaching team for this roster also includes Lethal Shooter and Chris Brickley.
On the opposing team, players will feature a diverse lineup including Keegan-Michael Key, Shams Charania, Jeremy Lin, Amon-Ra St Brown, GloRilla, Tacko Fall, Rome Flynn, Dylan Wang, Jenna Bandy, Cafu, and Rick Schnall. This team will be coached by NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Mookie Betts.
The NBA All-Star event is scheduled for Friday, February 13, at 7 PM ET, which translates to Saturday, February 14, at 5:30 AM IST. Fans can catch the live broadcast on ESPN, along with streaming options available on Prime Video and NBA League Pass through the official NBA App. The game will take place at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
Last October, Badshah was spotted at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 alongside celebrities like Ranveer Singh and Adrien Brody, as well as cricketer Rashid Khan. It’s worth noting that Ranveer Singh, who has been the brand ambassador for NBA India since 2021, has previously participated in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Games held in Cleveland (2022) and Salt Lake City (2023).
After the All-Star game, Badshah is scheduled to perform at The O2 in London on March 22. He described headlining this venue as a significant milestone, expressing his excitement about representing Desi hip hop on a global platform. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of the upcoming show, signifying a proud moment for the genre and its community.