The Brooklyn Nets hosted “Biggie Night” on Sunday when they took on the Knicks in a cross-town rivalry game that also served as a celebration of one of the all-time great New York hip-hop artists, Brooklyn-native The Notorious B.I.G.
The celebration came 20 years after the tragic shooting death of Biggie Smalls in Los Angeles, as the Nets honored the late rapper by bringing his family, including mother Voletta Wallace and R&B singer Faith Evans, to the Barclays Center for the game against the Knicks (which resulted in a rare Nets win). Wallace spoke to the crowd at halftime, thanking the Nets for inviting her to what turned out to be her first ever professional basketball game.
Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way
To honor The Notorious BIG, the @BrooklynNets welcome Biggie's family and co on #NetsBiggieNight #RIPBIG pic.twitter.com/jmYQJFpBsF
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2017
She also spoke with the YES broadcast later about what it meant for her son to be honored, and the thing that she thinks the most about when it comes to what her son meant to Brooklyn.
Voletta Wallace talks about attending her FIRST NBA game, a game dedicated to her son, The Notorious B.I.G.pic.twitter.com/KOaQFGsRxo
— Def Pen (@DefPen) March 12, 2017
“The only thing I can see is love,” Wallace said. “And if he can, if this one person can bring so much love together for others, that is, it just warms my heart. He’s not here and I’m saddened by it, but I’m thrilled to know he brought so much love to community.”
Along with Biggie’s mother and other members of his family, Diddy was in the building to remember and honor his friend and frequent collaborator.
.@diddy giving words center court for The Notorious BIG. #NetsBiggieNight pic.twitter.com/avpD9Z7ZZV
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 12, 2017
Nice moment at Barclays Center for Biggie Night: Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace, sitting courtside with P. Diddy: pic.twitter.com/yxU8E88Gw3
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 12, 2017
(Via SLAM Magazine)