Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green Wins First Marvel Arena of Heroes
Marvel's first #ArenaOfHeroes champion 💥 pic.twitter.com/o6CmHdBclg
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 4, 2021
Marvel’s Arena of Heroes
As many of our devoted readers know, Marvel Entertainment and ESPN are both subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company, and on May 3rd, the two companies teamed-up to launch a groundbreaking collaboration in a Marvel-inspired event: NBA Special Edition Presented by State Farm: Marvel’s Arena of Heroes.
Photo: Marvel
The alternate presentation was the latest collaboration in Marvel and ESPN’s long history of sports content collaboration, and it aired last night at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
Photo: ESPN2
Appearing throughout the live telecast to show support for their player picks, 3D virtual versions of iconic Marvel characters, including Captain America, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Black Widow, appeared court side to cheer on the live basketball game.
The original story line that frames this innovative idea is that the Avengers must recruit a team of Earth’s greatest athletes to help them defeat an ominous threat as Marvel Champions.
Photo: ESPN2
The Avengers started their recruitment with the NBA elite, focusing on three star players from each team playing in the Arena of Heroes: Stephen Curry, three-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA MVP; Draymond Green, three-time NBA Champion; Andrew Wiggins, 2014-15 NBA Rookie of the Year; Zion Williamson, 2019 NBA Draft top pick; Brandon Ingram, 2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player; and Lonzo Ball, 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Draymond Green Wins!
Throughout the game, each of the basketball players was assessed on how many Marvel Hero Points they earned throughout the game. And, I know the sports writers aren’t happy about it, but for the first time in years, I tuned into a sports game and actually enjoyed it? Well, ain’t that a just crossover event doing exactly what it’s supposed to do!
Marvel's #ArenaOfHeroes starts soon! Which elite athlete will win the opportunity to stand with the Avengers? Watch the @warriors vs. @PelicansNBA on ESPN2, ESPN+, and @ESPNDeportes to find out: https://t.co/tPW8ky6pVj pic.twitter.com/uWtKTvjPsY
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) May 3, 2021
In the first ever Arena of Heroes, the Warriors beat the Pelicans, and Green beat Curry, making Doctor Strange’s pick to defend Earth the front runner in the contest for Hero Points. According to NBC Sports, Green finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists in 36 minutes, totaling 48 Hero Points, the most among any of the players from either team.
A scoring breakdown for Draymond Green as he becomes Marvel's first #ArenaOfHeroes champion with a game-high 48 Hero Points! pic.twitter.com/Ib5OJYUlUb
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2021
Despite Curry’s 41 points on the basketball court, Green topped Curry’s score by a single Hero Point. “To beat Steph at something, that’s incredible,” Green said. “I don’t beat that guy very much.”
More from Marvel's #ArenaOfHeroes champion: pic.twitter.com/V8NLJJEQW3
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 4, 2021
Thanks to Green’s heroic efforts on the court, the Warriors won the first of a series of two games with the Pelicans, the team a few spots below Golden State in the Western Conference standings.
