Who needs AGT? Nick Cannon shows he's still got plenty of talent in NBA celebrity game... after leaving NBC variety show
Nick Cannon looked to be on the rebound after leaving America's Got Talent earlier this week.
The 36-year-old ex-husband of Mariah Carey was a participant in Friday's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game stemming out of the Superdome in New Orleans.
No doubt the television presenter was instrumental in his East team giving the West team an 88-59 shellacking.
Gameflow: Nick Cannon, 36, looked to be in good spirtis in Friday's Celebrity All-Star game emanating out of New Orleans, Louisiana. He made headlines leaving America's Got Talent in contentious fashion earlier this week
But his time on the hardwood Friday probably seemed like a cake walk after a whirlwind week that saw him depart the NBC talent show in controversial fashion.
The departure all stemmed from a joke he made about his gig on the prime-time summer program that will soon begin rolling on its 12th season.
In the Showtime comedy special, titled, Stand Up, Don't Shoot, Cannon primed the crowd that they'd be seeing a different side of him than what they're used to on the network show, as spoke frankly on various social issues.
Cleaning the glass: Cannon was on the rebound - or looking for one - against WNBA standout Nneka Ogwumike
Handling business: The comic looked to be an apt ball handler as he fought through defenders Hasan Minhaj and Ogwumike
Cannon, who joked he would 'mess up the white money' he earns from NBC, told the audience: 'I grew up like a real n****. But I honestly believe, once I started doing America’s Got Talent, they took my real n-**** card.'
He also cracked that the NBC initials stand for 'N---- Be Careful'
Another board: Cannon recovered a rebound from New Orleans actor Anthony Mackie
Musical clash: Cannon veered into Master P attempting a steal during the celeb contest
Good sports: Despite playing for opposite sides, both recording artists embraced amid the heat of competition
Cannon subsequently took to Facebook to vent about the personal and professional turmoil after hearing show execs said that he might have been in breach of his contract amid his remarks, which some took as disparaging to the network.
'I find myself in a dark place having to make a decision that I wish I didn't have to, but as a man, an artist, and a voice for my community I will not be silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property,' he said.
Cannon, who subsequently left the show after eight years, stayed firm on his decision while speaking with paparazzi at a New York airport.
Mismatch: Cannon might have been a bit out of his element matching up with retired NBA standout Baron Davis in the athletic contest
Game face: Actor Ansel Elgort, 22, looked focused both before the game (left) and during it
Stars emerge: Fat Joe (left) was a coach for the East, while Rocsi Diaz was one for the West
Love for the game: Fat Joe, 46, looked spirited as he cheered on his East teammates, who prevailed in the game by a wide margin
'My dignity, my integrity is worth so much to me and to be ridiculed, accused and all those things in the public. They wanted it to be swept quickly under the rug and were saying I was an emotionally-unstable person.'
On Friday, the entertainer seemed to be in good spirits on the court, playing alongside notable names such as actor Ansel Elgort as he competed against a squad that included billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and rapper Master P.
Confident: D.J. Khaled looked to be having a nice time on the sideline at the starry contest
Fearless: This wasn't the first time Nick faced off with a billion-dollar powerhouse this week, but his chat with Marc Cuban looked to be quite friendlier than his NBC feud
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