VENICE BEACH, Calif. -- All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles is always about the game's biggest stars and the flashiest dunks, but on Thursday afternoon at the Venice Beach basketball courts, the focus was on something much bigger than basketball.

I had the chance to be on-site at AT&T's Dunk District during NBA All-Star Weekend, and what I saw from Los Angeles Clippers rookie Kobe Sanders and Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward was one of the most genuine moments I have covered all season. 

Walking up to the courts, the setup was hard to miss. 

A giant inflatable entrance arch topped with an oversized blue basketball, the AT&T Dunk Bus parked along the side, a "ShaiT&T" merchandise station and blue cocktail tables scattered across the area with palm trees and Muscle Beach in the background made the whole thing feel like it belonged right where it was.

Two Rookies, One Purpose

Sanders and Coward were both on hand for a Device Distribution Event put together by AT&T and human-I-T, where they helped hand out brand new laptops to kids in need from around the Los Angeles area. 

The distribution took place on a blue court underneath a large AT&T sign, with staffers wearing black "AT&T Believes" shirts helping organize the giveaway while families sat in rows of white folding chairs. 

Both players stood on stage and personally handed each child a white gift bag with their new device inside and spent time talking to them about school and their goals. 

It was the kind of thing that doesn't show up in a box score but tells you everything about the character of these two young guys.

After the laptops were distributed, Sanders and Coward hit the courts with some of the kids for a basketball clinic. 

Blue cones were set up for drills, and both guys went through fundamentals like dribbling, footwork and shooting form. Sanders, still in his cream-colored hoodie, walked kids through the basics with a Wilson basketball, while Coward, rocking a grey Memphis hoodie, worked with another group nearby. 

The hoops had "Park Proud LA" and the Los Angeles Clippers logo on the backboards, and watching two NBA players break down the game on the same Venice Beach courts where street basketball legends have played for decades was something special.

What Is the Dunk District?

For those unfamiliar, the Dunk District was a pop-up activation that AT&T built at the Venice Beach courts for All-Star Weekend, combining basketball, gaming, and community all in one spot. 

The Dunk Bus featured motorized hoops and NBA 2K gaming stations, free play courts were open to the public, and the merchandise experience was tied to 2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 

The Venice Beach courts were the perfect home for all of it because of how deep the basketball history runs at that location.

A Look at Both Players' Seasons

Sanders, the 50th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Nevada, has quietly turned into a solid rotation piece for the Clippers and recently earned a standard contract.

Fresh off that contract and a road trip before the All-Star break, Sanders said, "We're here playing basketball, giving back to the community, here for the vibes."

The 6-foot-8 guard is averaging 6.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 37.0 percent from three for a Clippers team sitting at 26-28.

Coward, the 11th overall pick who was traded to Memphis on draft night, has been one of the better rookies in the league and was selected for the Rising Stars Game before a knee issue kept him out. 

He even mentioned that he had a family member that worked with AT&T, so it is a full-circle moment for him and his family. 

He is putting up 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on 46.8 percent shooting for a Grizzlies team at 20-33, but said that he is a “Cali Kid, so it's cool to be out here by the beach.”

Bigger Than Basketball

The numbers and the wins matter, but days like Thursday remind you that the NBA's reach goes far beyond the court. 

Sanders and Coward are both in their first year in the league, and they are already using their platform to make a difference. 

Venice Beach was the perfect backdrop for all of it, and AT&T's Dunk District proved to be more than just a fan experience.