Saturday was a beautiful day, and Stephen Curry and LeBron James played basketball with excited kids. Thanks to Alex Goodlett for The New York Times for the picture.

As LeBron James cheered on a group of 16-second graders from Success Academy Charter Schools, he told them, “Keep trying, you’ve got this.” The kids in blue button-down shirts and red ties stood in front of him and looked determined. Each player took turns throwing the ball as high as they could, aiming for the circle that was at least seven feet above them. James was there to catch the rebounds every time they were made.

“There we go, there we go and there we go.” These were the loud, excited words that could be heard in the underground gym at the High School of Graphic Communication Arts on West 49th Street in Hell’s Kitchen at 2:30 p.m. on a Friday. James, who has been named NBA Most Valuable Player four times, had planned to hold a basketball workshop for kids. He had no idea that it would become a star-studded event with a lot more people than he thought.

A lot was going on outside of the school, where six police cars and a satellite TV truck were parked. Mayor Bill de Blasio even showed up, which made things even more exciting. The event was even more important because NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association Michele A. Roberts, and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan were all there.

What started as a basketball lesson for kids quickly turned into a meeting of important people. The kids and their love of sports were still the center of attention, even with all the noise and VIPs there. Stephen Curry, the player who got the most votes in the All-Star Game and a rising star, showed off his great shot skills, but the students were more interested in LeBron James. They laughed at his silly antics and were amazed at how well he could dunk and spin the ball on his finger. 

The NBA recently fixed up the gym and turned it into a light and airy leisure center with banners of NBA All-Stars. The exercise clinic that James and Curry ran was one of many that the league held at schools across the city. James was thankful for the new facilities and talked about how he used to play on homemade outdoor courts when he was younger. Before cutting the ribbon, James spoke to the crowd and told them to pay attention to their teachers and parents. He also said that he and Curry hoped they could continue to be an example. For years, James fans wished he could play for the Knicks in New York. 

But his attendance at this community service event near Madison Square Garden reminded everyone that he now lives in Cleveland. Mayor de Blasio stopped for a moment to watch James play with the kids on the court. Curry also liked playing in New York. He talked about how Madison Square Garden has historical importance and how it always brings out the best in him. Curry does play for the Golden State Warriors, though, and won’t be able to sign with any other team until 2017. In other news, James L. Dolan, the owner of the Knicks, said he regretted getting angry when a fan sent him a negative email.

 He admitted that he gets a lot of emails, but that he usually doesn’t read the bad ones. This one, on the other hand, caught him off guard, and things got hot. Dolan said he was sorry for what he did and asked everyone to pay attention to the upcoming All-Star Week. LeBron James was also chosen as the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association. This gives him a big part in talks with the league’s owners about how to make money.