Jennifer Hudson Playing in NBA All-Star Celebrity Game ‘in Honor’ of Her Late Brother

Jennifer Hudson is playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game for a very special reason – her late brother Jason.

In Wednesday’s episode Show Jennifer HudsonThe 42-year-old singer and actress revealed that her dream of participating in the event is finally coming true.

“You all know the NBA All-Star Game is coming up?” Hudson asked as she addressed the crowd. “And you know I’m a basketball mom, right? I always go every year with my son and his relatives. I call them Camp David because they’re all basketball players,” the EGOT winner continued as footage of her and David’s son Daniel, 14, at the All-Star game flashed on the screen.

The talk show host, who shares a son with ex-fiancé David Otunga, then revealed that the game was “significant” because it falls on the same date as her late brother’s birthday every year. Hudson’s brother, mother Darnell Donerson and 7-year-old nephew Julian King were killed in October 2008. Her former brother-in-law, William Balfour, was convicted of the murders.

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“His birthday was Feb. 17, and he was a big basketball fan,” Hudson said of Jason. “That makes me a big fan of basketball and in his honor I always try to celebrate his birthday that way.”

She then added that it prompted her to be on the Celebrity All-Star Game team, before revealing: “Guess what, it’s finally happening! I was invited to play on the NBA All-Star basketball team!”

“You see I’m tall enough, right? I was under my kid, going to practice and everything,” Hudson continued. “I’m calling everyone because I have to make my son proud because I can’t go outside and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Jennifer Hudson on Tuesday’s episode of ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’.

Chris Millard/Warner Bros

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She added that she took the game very seriously and because of that her heels, glasses, hair and “nails” would fall off.

“I’m gonna throw some braids up there, Mama Hud gonna be ready for this game because I gotta make my kid proud, the boys proud.”

Hudson then revealed she called professional basketball coach and former player Derek Fisher, 49, for some advice, before a video of her training with NBA shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews was shown.

Jennifer Hudson and Derek Fisher on Tuesday’s episode of ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’.

Chris Millard/Warner Bros

“Overall, I can’t be ashamed of these kids and I want to make my brother proud on his heavenly birthday,” Hudson said. “And after I become an MVP-certified celebrity MVP, I’ll come back and tell you all about it.”

The show then switched to a segment where Fisher trains Hudson to handle and control the ball before practicing his shooting skills.

The studio crowd cheered as Hudson began to take his first shot, however, the ball ended up flying over the hoop, making the star and the crowd laugh.

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“Don’t push him toward the basket, you’ve got to make sure he keeps going up a little bit,” Fisher explained as he assured Hudson that missed shots “happen to the best of us.”

While Hudson’s second shot narrowly missed the rim, she immediately took a third shot, which went in just fine.

“That!” she screamed as Fisher high-fived her, and the crowd cheered.

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Source: HIS Education