The game paired Special Olympians from around the world (including players from Italy, China and Africa) with NBA legends like Dikembe Mutombo, WNBA players and current NBA stars for a forty minute unified game.
In the Stern era, players such as Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), Dikembe Mutombo (Congo), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Pau Gasol (Spain), Vlade Divac (Serbia) and Steve Nash (Canada), among many others, became not only stars but respected ambassadors.