Nets to Hold 'Biggie Night' in Honor of Notorious B.I.G.'s 20th Anniversary of His Death
Is Brooklyn in the house? Without a doubt, it will be on Sunday, when the Brooklyn Nets hold "Biggie Night" in honor of the 20th anniversary of the death of Notorious B.I.G., as the squad will host their cross-city rival New York Knicks.
According to ESPN, Diddy and Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, will be in attendance to pay tribute to the late rapper, who was shot and killed back on March 9, 1997. The Worldwide Leader in Sports also reported that the MC's children, T'Yanna and CJ Wallace, and former associates Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow have been invited to the planned pre-game and halftime ceremonies Sunday as well.
Since the Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012, Biggie's iconic music and that of his fellow BK representer and former collaborator Jay Z have been staples at Barclays Center.
"We infuse Brooklyn wherever possible," CEO of Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment Brett Yormark told ESPN. "The architecture of the building speaks to the borough — 85 percent of our employees are from Brooklyn. When you think of the music we play, we obviously play tribute to artists who have made Brooklyn a home or are from Brooklyn, starting with Jay Z, Biggie and many others. It has become part of our DNA."
He added: "It was an easy decision to turn this game into a moment to celebrate Biggie. Puff Daddy will obviously be involved. So it has turned into something pretty special for us. [B.I.G.'s] from Brooklyn. We play his music. We consider ourselves the home of hip-hop — both Brooklyn and Barclays Center. It is very appropriate that this night takes place in Brooklyn."
The Knicks' All-Star forward, Carmelo Anthony, and Nets' point guard Isaiah Whitehead also have ties to Brooklyn, making "Biggie Night" hit home that much more.
And with Diddy involved in helping spearhead the event, there could be some surprises on the evening that will be sure to be remembered.
BET Sports News — Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports, including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes.
