The NFL season may be over, but there’s still action going on everywhere. This time, it’s in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. The game featured multiple NFL players, including Micah Parsons, Puka Nacua, and more.
However, no one played better than Parsons, who won the game’s MVP. How is the NFL world reacting?
NFL World Reacts to Micah Parsons’ Big Game
The game split all participating celebrities into two teams, Team Stephen A. and Team Shannon. The teams were named after the coaches, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe. Parsons was a part of Team Shannon.
Team Shannon won the game, 100-91, and saw Parsons put up 37 points, 16 rebounds, and four steals en route to his MVP honors. Parsons had even predicted he’d score 40 at intermission. Nacua, also on Team Shannon, had 16 points of his own.
MICAH PARSONS WENT OFF en route to winning the #RufflesCelebGame MVP!
37 PTS
16 REB
4 STLThe superstar pass rusher is no stranger to stuffing the stat sheet. pic.twitter.com/K3940wLoaL
— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2024
Some fans propped up Parsons for his performance, while others didn’t. “He was trying too hard,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter). “That’s what winners do. Losers don’t know much about that,” another fan said in response.
Parsons’ performance featured strong dunks, downhill drives, a bag of moves, and his strength and aggression. Since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has been a two-time first-team All-Pro, one-time second-team All-Pro, and three-time Pro Bowler. He also won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.
“I just said I was gonna come downhill, be a force to be reckoned with,” Parsons said postgame. “They say don’t treat it like it’s football, but I don’t believe that, man. I’m bringing my aggression to the court, and I’m taking home this trophy.”
“At the end of the day, you can’t outplay heart,” Parsons said. “All my teammates played with heart.”
His career stats feature 213 tackles, 40.5 sacks, eight pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, and one touchdown. He was a finalist for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 after a season with 64 tackles, 14 sacks, and one forced fumble.
“Micah Parsons is a DAWWWGGG,” Pat McAfee said, the game’s announcer, on X following a dunk. “Micah ‘Buckets’ Parsons,” replied one fan.
MORE: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
Parsons has been known as an elite athlete his entire career dating back to high school. He attended Central Dauphin High School before transferring to Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, Penn. He started at both defensive end and running back in high school before moving to linebacker in college at Penn State. He moved back to edge rusher in the NFL.
In college, Parsons played just two seasons due to opting out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had played in 26 games, totaling 191 tackles, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and five pass deflections.
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!