The NBA’s All-Star weekend is full of events leading up to the big game between the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars on Sunday.

So after the Skills Challenge and the 3-point contest, TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson stopped the action before the main event Saturday night — the Slam Dunk contest — at the Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans as he put together a touching tribute to his former colleague Craig Sager, one of the NBA’s most iconic sideline reporters.

Johnson started out by gathering the participants from the 3-point contest before announcing the impromptu event.

“We are going to put a minute on the clock and for every shot that is made we will throw in $10,000 into the Sager Strong Foundation,” said Johnson.

Reggie Miller, an NBA Hall of Famer and TNT broadcaster then stood up and chimed in.

“Whoa, whoa. I like that. Can I get involved with these great shooters,” Miller asked Johnson.

Then before anyone could blink, Miller recruited several NBA players (DeMar Derozan, James Harden), along with DJ Khaled and WNBA star Candace Parker to the team.

The group, despite being in their street clothes for the impromptu event — combined to make 13 3-pointers to raise $130,000 for the Sager Strong foundation. Parker even made one barefoot after taking off her heels.

But they weren’t done yet.

Johnson invited Steph Curry to attempt several half-court shots to get the total up to $500,000. Curry, who was wearing his usual skinny jeans, wasn’t able to connect, but it paved the way for a special moment for Sager’s son.

With NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal by his side, Ryan Sager was lifted up to the hoop by Shaq as he hit nothing but net to help earn the $500,000 donation to the Sager Strong foundation, which supports education and cancer research.

Out of all of Saturday’s events, no contest was greater or more meaningful than players playing for something much more than a trophy.

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