Seventeen-year-old Robert’s favorite sport is pro basketball. As a matter of fact, wish granters with the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of North Texas say he loves it. When the teen was considering a wish from the North Texas chapter, he contemplated a meeting with Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson, but then he began to think strategically. Instead, he decided he wanted to meet all the players at the 2003 NBA All-Star Weekend.

With sponsorship from Jewelers Charity Fund for Children, Robert brought best buddy William, mom Demaris, and aunt Patricia to Atlanta for the all-star activities. One of their first experiences was discovering that world-famous Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal was staying at their hotel and eating in the coffee shop!

The group had numerous activities to take in during the NBA All-Star Weekend, with the first one being the NBA All-Star Jam Session. There at the Georgia World Congress Center, Robert and William obtained autographs and could dunk basketballs, shoot free throws, jump on trampolines, create trading cards, test their trivia, and much more. They also took in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge game, the 989 Sports Skills Challenge, and the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk competition. The awestruck teens report they were amazed to see the NBA athletes fly through the air during the dunk contest, which was eventually won by two-time victor Jason Richardson.

Finally, Sunday arrived and that meant the culmination of the NBA All-Star Weekend…the 52nd All-Star Game. The family watched as stars and celebrities entered Philips Arena. Robert’s greatest wish came true as the basketball players came out to meet the family and sign autographs. The ecstatic young fan collected signatures, took pictures, and talked to the players. When it came time for tipoff, he went to his suite.

In one of the final surprises of the night, the family’s suite happened to be next to entertainer Mariah Carey, who had just finished singing the national anthem. The singer graciously posed for pictures with William and Robert. She also sang her hit “Hero” during a tribute to superstar Michael Jordan.

The basketball game capped off a magical weekend for wish kid Robert. The West squad beat the East, 155-145, in Jordan’s last All-Star Game. Jordan turned the game into a historical event by becoming the All-Star Game’s all-time leading scorer when he finished with 20 points. Looking back, Robert felt that the weekend was everything he could have asked for and more.