Drew Gooden Hosts "Make-A-Wish" Basketball Game with Other NBA Stars

Milwaukee Bucks power forward Drew Gooden made a splash at the Cow Palace Sunday night hosting a charity basketball game and raising $10,000 for the Bay Area chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

The funds will go towards granting the dream of Andrew (a local child) of attending the 2012 Olympics in London.

Gooden rustled up a cast of the NBA’s best with NBA champs Jason Terry and Shawn Marion to go with Joakim Noah (Bulls), James Harden (Thunder), Eric Gordon (Clippers) and Dorell Wright (Warriors), along with fellow Bay Area native Leon Powe (Grizzlies), to play in the game.

“I am from the Bay Area, and anytime I can come back and give back, I am with it,” said Gooden, who will also be supporting a second charity event in the Bay Area Monday. “Anytime I can do something in the community, that is a big positive to me.”

Gooden also said for the first time in his NBA career, because of the lockout, he was able to finally attend a Gauchos' practice.

“Usually we are playing at the same time as El Cerrito High,” said Gooden. “It was a blessing to be able to go out there one night and practice with the guys.”

Powe, an Oakland Tech and Cal alum, also talked about being able to attend a Bulldogs football game and hoped he would be able to get to a basketball game or practice.

“It feels good to be back in the Bay. This is my home,” said Powe. “This is a good cause, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. When Drew called me and told me what the game was for, I had to be here. I want to do stuff like this.”

Gooden joins the list of locked-out NBA players putting together philanthropic events in their hometowns.

“This is important because the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been proven not only in the Bay Area, but nationally and internationally,” added Gooden. “We were able to tie the Make-A-Wish Foundation and basketball together tonight.”

His game came on the heels of Matt Barnes' “Dubs vs. We Believe” game to benefit the Athletes vs. Cancer foundation. Barnes held the game in San Jose (his birth place) to support raising funds for cancer prevention screenings, a cause he holds close to heart, as his mother passed away from the lung disease in 2007.

The game, which drew 3,800 fans, also gave a nod to the game’s local history by playing in the Cow Palace, where the Golden State Warriors won their only championship in 1975.

Gooden also acknowledged the round ball fanaticism in the area.

“(The Bay Area) has great fans here with football, baseball and the Warriors,” said Gooden. “I expect Bay Area basketball to be a huge, huge hit.”

Notes: Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, also played in the game.

Teams

Red:
Ricky Rubio
DeMar DeRozan
Shawn Marion
Joakim Noah
Drew Gooden
Keith Bogans
Nick Collison
Jason Kapono

White:
Eric Gordon
Dorell Wright
Anderson Verajao
Al Harrington
Leon Powe
Jeremy Tyler
James Harden
Amir Johnson

Final score: White 117, Reds 92

Download the movie