In the world of sports, athletes often step outside their comfort zones, testing their skills in unexpected arenas. For track and field sensation Masai Russell, that moment has arrived—but with a twist! Known for her dominance in hurdles, Russell now finds herself in the limelight for something completely different. It is the 2025 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

While fans are excited to see her take on this new challenge, Russell herself has a hilarious warning. That is, don’t expect too much from her on the basketball court! The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, held annually during All-Star Weekend, is a star-studded event that brings together celebrities from various fields, including former NBA players, WNBA stars, musicians, and athletes from different sports.

This year’s edition, scheduled for February 14 at Oakland Arena in California, features an exciting mix of personalities. Among them is Russell, fresh off a stellar performance at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. There she dominated the 60-meter hurdles final with a blazing 7.80-second finish. However, despite her incredible athleticism on the track, she’s made it clear that her skills don’t translate to the hardboard floors.

Masai Russell’s approach towards unexpected NBA crossover

Masai was recently caught on camera engaged in a candid conversation with track enthusiasts. In the video shared on X by track expert Chris Chavez, Russell shared, “Basketball and me have never gone together at all.” Russell candidly admitted, “The only thing I’m good at is probably tracking, jumping over hurdles, and flipping a little bit.” While some fans may have hoped to see her channel that explosive speed into fast breaks and dunks, Russell isn’t setting the bar high for herself in this exhibition game. Instead, she’s more than happy to let her fellow track star, Shelby McEwen, take the spotlight.

“So for me, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shelby gets a couple of ducks. You know, scores a couple of points, maybe even wins an MVP,” she joked. Masai further added, “It’s kind of hard to say, but yeah, no, don’t look for me to do anything.” It’s an honest, lighthearted take from Russell. She clearly understands that excelling in one sport doesn’t always mean success in another. While McEwen, known for his high-flying abilities in track and field, might have a better chance at impressing the crowd, Russell is keeping her expectations low.

That doesn’t mean she’s not excited about the experience. For Russell, this is more about having fun, enjoying the moment, and soaking in the star-studded atmosphere. “I’m going to be out there looking cute, taking pictures like I always do, but don’t look for nothing on the court,” she laughed. It seems the sprinter is being real to herself. After all, being good at one thing doesn’t mean being good at others. So for the time being, Russell is simply enjoying the role of the celeb participant.

But that doesn’t mean she has no hope. She is keeping a bare minimum goal. “Hopefully I get a point. That’s all I want to know,” she said. But again, who knows, Masai just might score that elusive point. After all, it will be another thing to remember about the eventful night. But for now, Masai’s focus isn’t on the scoreboard but on bringing that Grade-A swag to the game. She might even get her teammates something to have a laugh on.

But before all the fun and games comes a major hurdle, that too quite literally. And that hurdle is the 60-meter category at the Millrose games. The sprinter will be looking forward to winning the whole deal and coming with one more medal. But once this hurdle is done on February 9, it will be time to have some fun. And both Russell and McEwen will be looking forward to some major dunks. But will Russell be successful in scoring that elusive hoop? Well, you will have to wait till Valentine’s for that.