Good morning. Russell Westbrook is everything.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

THE GREATEST ALL-STAR: Russell Westbrook decided to gun like crazy, and he’s so good he ended up nearly beating the All-Star scoring record. Westbrook finished with 41 points on 30 shooting possessions (28 FGAs plus 4 FTAs). Oh, in 26 minutes. It was every bit as crazy as that sounds. He took a 40-foot heat check at one point, and personally I was surprised it missed.

Oh, and the West won 163-158, setting a new scoring record. The biggest statistical anomaly was that the record for threes attempted was shattered. Kyle Korver himself took 12 in 16 minutes. (He hit seven.) The Splash Brothers went 4-19 from deep. Carmelo Anthony went 2-13.

Some celebrities wore some weird very interesting outfits. I fear that we’ve lost Chris Bosh forever, friends.

The three best plays of the All-Star Game: Curry’s derring-do layup quest and LeBron’s killer alley-oop finish and Westbrook’s head-to-rim dunk. The most hilarious moment of All-Star without question, though, goes to Dirk Nowitzki, who finished an oop and channeled Vinsanity in his celebration.

MEET THE YO-YO DRIBBLE: Mike Prada breaks down a new dribble move we’re beginning to see a lot more frequently.

TWEET OF THE FORTNIGHT: Cultural critic Rudy Gobert issued a lesson to pop star Ariana Grande about standing “ass-to-ass” with Nicki Minaj.

JEANS OF THE FORTNIGHT: Rihanna sat courtside (as she does) and wore jeans that said “F--k off” in multiple places (including on her cigarette pouch?!). She tried to hide it when the TNT camera came in for a close-up, but she was unable to do so. If you have comments about Rihanna or her jeans, please direct them to your nearest pop superstar’s cigarette pouch for a response.

BEST USE OF POLKA DOT SOCKS EVER: Craig Sager is almost ready to return to courtside after battling cancer. He did a segment on the pregame show while wearing a shorts suit and long polka dot socks.

AMARE IS FREE: Frank Isola reported at the end of the All-Star Game that the Knicks have reached a buyout with Amare Stoudemire, ending his maligned New York career.

JT IS NOT: Marc Spears reports Jason Thompson’s people are trying to get the power forward moved this week. He is the longest tenured King. Since being drafted in 2008, he has now had six head coaches.

MORE CHUCK: Richard Deitsch had a Q&A with Charles Barkley, which included a very interesting nugget on the trade that almost sent him to the Lakers in 1992.

A NOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS: My friend Paul Flannery took home first prize for game stories in the annual Professional Basketball Writers Association Best Writing Contest. The story he won it for: his gamer on the Spurs’ Game 4 victory of the Heat in Miami. Congratulations to Flanns. I know Mike Prada would agree that it’s eternally a joy to edit Paul’s work.

Happy Trade Deadline Week. See you next time.