The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend had a handful of representatives from the West Coast Conference, with Santa Clara's Brandin Podziemski and Gonzaga's Julian Strawther each in the Rising Stars Challenge, while another Santa Clara alum - Jalen Williams - will take the floor Sunday night in the All-Star Game as part of Kenny's Young Stars.

While there weren't any WCC reps at the NBA Dunk Contest, perhaps the most famous conference alumni was part of the event thanks to a tribute from 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett.

Garnett was shown on the screen before the contest began, and he revealed a sweatshirt with USF and the number six emblazoned on the front, an homage to San Francisco Dons legend and NBA superstar Bill Russell, who passed away at age 88 in 2022.

Russell led San Francisco to back-to-back national championships in 1955 and 1956, while also captaining Team USA to a gold medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics.

He went on to have one of the greatest careers in NBA history, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 year career, all spent with the Boston Celtics.

Russell's prolific career earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, and the NBA Finals MVP award was renamed the 'Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award' back in 2009. During the All-Star Game that year, Russell was presented a birthday cake for his 75th birthday by members of the Celtics, including Garnett.

Russell is arguably the greatest basketball player to come out of the the West Coast Conference, with Gonzaga's John Stockton, Santa Clara's Steve Nash, and Pepperdine's Dennis Johnson the other Hall of Famers. Gonzaga coach Mark Few is up for induction into the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025 as well.

The All-Star Game will tip-off on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8:20 PM ET between Kenny's Young Stars and Chuck's Global Stars on TNT.