James Harden, Top Rookies Share Spotlight in Panini America’s 2013 NBA All-Star Vids

HOUSTON — Whew! What a weekend that was. Over the course of an action-packed four days during the just-completed 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend, Panini America squeezed what seemed like a season’s worth of highlights into a span of 96 hair-raising hours.

The whirlwind began Thursday afternoon when Panini America brought Houston Rockets star James Harden to Houston Sports Connection for a public signing. From there, the focus shifted to the company’s perpetually packed booth at the 2013 NBA Jam Session, which hosted top NBA rookies Thomas Robinson, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Andre Drummond for free autograph signings and unforgettable memories. With Chris Reed running point on the camera, Panini America documented every sight and every sound for the following video diary.

We’ll begin with Harden’s appearance, a video that includes a quick break of 2012-13 Contenders Basketball and ends with Panini America NBA Brand Manager Keith Hower asking Harden about the possibilities of a beard memorabilia card. Seriously.

Next up are the gracious, engaging and aforementioned rookies, who helped make the Panini America booth inside the George R. Brown Convention Center the place to be all weekend long. In this video, we bring you all the action from the signings as well as exclusive interviews with Robinson, Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist.

Special thanks to video editor extraordinaire Tom “The Ripper” Key, whose magic can be found not only in these videos, but also in our special report from Friday’s Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame press conference.