Hooping It Up Big Time in Anaheim : Competition: NBA stars provide arena’s inaugural sporting event, but very little basketball is played. Laker Duane Cooper wins title as “best all-around athlete” in charity fund-raiser.

Fourteen NBA stars gathered at the Anaheim Arena Sunday for New York Knick Charles Smith’s Battle of the Basketball Stars. And they did just about everything but play basketball.

Approximately 5,000 fans watched New York Knick Greg Anthony do his best Ken Stabler imitation by completing 25-yard perfect spirals.

They watched New Jersey Net Chris Morris prove he’s no Karch Kiraly as he awkwardly spiked a volleyball over his shoulder.

They watched the event’s master of ceremonies, stand-up comedian Sinbad, shake and shimmy alongside the Clippers’ dance team, the Spirit.

“This one has a little of everything to keep it interesting,” the Miami Heat’s John Salley said. “I like this one because in those summer all-star games we play in, there’s no defense, guys start throwing up crazy shots. That gets boring.”

The players participated in a variety of events including a 50-yard dash, tug-of-war, obstacle course, soccer dribbling, football toss, weightlifting and volleyball to determine the “best all-around athlete.”

In the football toss, the players stood 10 yards away from three tires. While the others tossed the ball through the tires for points, Salley took his first ball, dropped back, then heaved it 40 yards over the tires and into the first few rows of fans.

The fans also sought autographs from the players.

One fan yelled to Salley, “Hey, tell us a joke.”

“You got a beer?” Salley replied.

The casual atmosphere resembled a company picnic.

“The camaraderie is great and it’s nice seeing everyone in the off-season,” Houston Rocket Kenny Smith said.

“It’s a chance to get to know guys that maybe you weren’t cool with on the court, but maybe you get to know by hanging out with them off the court,” Salley said.

Was there someone like that for Salley?

“I get along with everybody,” he said.

The competition wasn’t completely devoid of basketball with the players competing in a three-point shooting contest and P-I-G, a shorter version of H-O-R-S-E.

Laker Duane Cooper won the overall competition by defeating New Jersey Net Chris Morris and San Antonio Spur J.R. Reid in the day’s final event, P-I-G.

Cooper went outside and made numerous three-pointers to eliminate Reid. So Morris went inside for some rim rattling dunks.

“Hey, I’m only 5-foot-10,” Cooper told Morris.

With the pair tied at P-I, Cooper made a three-pointer from the right wing, and Morris missed, giving the Cooper the title.

Smith started the event three years ago with the proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Times Fund and the Charles D. Smith Jr. Foundation and Educational Center. Both organizations sponsor educational and athletic programs for kids.

“It all started three years ago in the back of the Clippers’ bus,” Smith said. “We all started talking about who was the fastest guy in the league, or who was the fastest dribbler.”

Some of Smith’s old teammates participated this year, including Clipper Ken Norman and Houston Rocket Winston Garland, a former Clipper. Smith also brought along current teammates John Starks and Anthony.

Former UCLA standout Tracy Murray, a forward with the Portland Trailblazers, Atlanta Hawk Stacy Augmon, Boston Celtic Xavier McDaniel and Sacramento King Mitch Richmond also participated.