Watch: Frances Tiafoe's grand introduction by Ben Affleck at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Frances Tiafoe's love for basketball is known to all. He recently became only the third tennis player, after Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard, to feature in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Ben Affleck's energetic introduction of the 2022 US Open semifinalist was one of the highlights of the night.
Organized by the National Basketball Association, the exhibition match is held annually during the NBA All-Star Weekend and is graced by former NBA and WNBA players, athletes from other sports, and some of the biggest stars from the entertainment world. This year's game was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the two captains being businessman Ryan Smith and basketball legend Dwyane Wade.
Tiafoe was part of Team Wade. Other members of his team included actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj, NFL star DK Metcalf, actor Janelle Monae, and Indian actor Ranveer Singh. Tiafoe's contribution helped his team defeat their opponents 81-78 in a thrilling contest.
Two-time Academy and three-time Golden Globe award-winner Affleck was the man with the microphone, introducing all the participants.
"He took the tennis world by storm this summer at the US Open. Let's see if he can do the same on the basketball court — Frances Tiafoe," Affleck announced.
Frances Tiafoe's intro (by Ben Affleck!) at the #NBAAllStar Celebrity Game last night 🔥 https://t.co/p2Z7sixsSk
A few days ago, the World No. 15 revealed that he had practiced for the event and that he just wanted to have fun with people he looked up to.
"I think I will just go out there and have fun. I mean I don’t want to look dumb, that’s why I’ve been training the past couple of weeks,” Tiafoe said.
“But it is about just having fun and obviously, All Star Weekend, everyone is there, you meet so many cool people and people that I’ve been fans of forever. To see they want me there and call me a celebrity, I’m truly blessed and hopefully, it is the first of many."
Frances Tiafoe or Taylor Fritz to replace Rafael Nadal in exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz
Rafael Nadal suffered a hip injury during the 2023 Australian Open and hasn't yet recovered. He has withdrawn from an exhibition event called The Slam, where he was supposed to face compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas on March 5.
"Rafael Nadal withdraws from exhibition with Carlos Alcaraz on March 5 in Las Vegas," tennis writer Christopher Clarey said on Twitter. "Alcaraz will now face winner of match between Taylor Fritz & Frances Tiafoe. But have to think, if Nadal cannot play March 5, it is unlikely he'll be able to play a few days later in Indian Wells."
The winner of an all-American match between Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will head to Las Vegas to replace the 22-time Grand Slam champion.